Abstract
Substances which have been reported as having a specific action in relieving experimental pigeon polyneuritis include various hydroxypyridins, 1 thyroxin and pilocarpine, 2 β-propylindolinone, 3 tyramine, 4 and histamine, 5 although the antineuritic effect of histamine has been questioned. 6 Attempts to prevent polyneuritis by histamine, 7 and pilocarpine 8 have not been successful, although success has been reported 9 with trimethyluracil and 4-phenylisocytosin.
The similarity of structure of indolinone and thyroxin 10 suggested a further study of their anti-neuritic properties, on the theory that the anti-neuritic vitamin may owe its properties to keto-enol isomerism as first suggested by Williams. 11
The β-methylindolinone was synthesized by the method of Brunner 12 and purified by recrystallization from hot ligroin. Two lots of crystals were used, one melting at 110°-111° C. and the other at 117° C. The β-propylindolinone had been prepared previously in this laboratory. The crystals melted at 110° C. (uncorrected).
The vitamin B-like nature of these substances were tested by Seidell constant weight method and by administrating them to birds which had developed acute polyneuritis on a polished rice diet. In the tests by Seidell's method the birds were first brought into weight equilibrium by a 200 mg. dose of activated solid on alternate days, the diet being polished rice and water, ad lib.; the substance to be tested was then given in suitable doses in place of the vitamin B preparation. A second period of vitamin B feeding concluded the test. The curative tests were conducted in the usual manner.
Five groups of pigeons, each containing 3 birds, received β-methylindolinone on alternate days in doses equivalent to 3, 5, 10, 15, and 50 mg. daily, respectively.
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