Abstract
On the basis of his finding of myelinolytic and lipolytic activity in the sera of patients with multiple sclerosis, Brickner 1 has suggested the therapeutic use of quinine in this condition, since it is known that quinine inhibits the action of some lipolytic enzymes in vitro. Weil 2 has confirmed the presence of a neurotoxic agent in the sera of these patients and has also demonstrated that the urine possesses a similar action. Crandall and Cherry 3 have shown that the majority of sera from cases of multiple sclerosis contain an abnormal lipase, similar to that of the pancreas; that diastase is also increased; and that similar findings are present in cases of liver disease and in animals with experimental hepatic damage. It seemed of value to determine whether a neurotoxic agent was present in experimental hepatic damage, and if so whether its appearance and concentration ran parallel to that of lipase.
Six dogs with complete obstruction of the common bile duct, 5 with ligation of both pancreatic ducts, and 3 with Eck fistulae were studied. Ligation of the pancreatic ducts has been shown by Berg and Zucker 4 to produce fatty degeneration of the liver. For determination of neurotoxic action the sera from these dogs were incubated with rat spinal cord (5 cc. serum with 0.05 gm. cord for 20 hrs. at 37°C.) After 3 days'formalin fixation the spinal cords were imbedded and sections stained for myelin (Weil's method), axis cylinders (Davenport's method) and with cresyl violet. Parallel determinations of lipase were made by the method previously reported. 5
Normal serum produces only a mild swelling of the nerve fibers in the outer zone of the spinal cord.
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