Abstract
The addition of various amounts of neutralized NaCN to the complex, red cells, specific hemolysin, and complement partially or completely inhibits hemolysis. (0.4 cc. or 0.5 cc. of 1% solution of NaCN in a total volume of 3 cc.) It makes no difference whether the cyanide is incubated first with the amboceptor or with the complement, for on the addition of the other reagents of the test the same degree of inhibition is noted.
The inhibitory action is not due to the HCN gas liberated by neutralization of the alkaline NaCN. The NaCN solution was adjusted to pH 7 by addition of HCl. This was tested by saturating all of the constituents of the test with HCN gas and comparing the time necessary for complete hemolysis, by reagents saturated with HCN gas with the time required by untreated reagents. The time was the same in both cases showing that the HCN gas was not inhibitory.
The cyanide does not effect the union of immune hemolysin with the red cells as washing the red blood cells after contact with hemolysin in the presence of cyanide in order to remove the cyanide, permits hemolysis to take place when complement is added.
These results are contradictory to those of L. Jarno and L. Suranyi, 1 who suggest that the action of NaCN is due to the inac-tivation of a cholic acid-like complex which they believe is associated with the properties of immune hemolysin.
Inasmuch as these workers fail to state whether they neutralized the cyanide their results might be due to the alkalinity of the cyanide solution. Experiments were carried out to show that the alkalinity of NaCN is sufficient to inactivate complement when used in amounts identical with those reported by the above workers.
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