Abstract
Complete pancreatectomy in the dog causes an increase of over 100% in the non-glucose reducing substance of venous blood. (Table.) This substance is determined quantitatively by the iodine titration method of King et al. for blood glutathione as modified by Mancorps and Schmid. 1 At this stage of the research we assume this substance to be glutathione; however, the method employed is not specific but may include such substances as thioneine and cystein. Ascorbic acid also interferes with this titration. The above mentioned interfering substances are probably not present in quantities sufficiently great to cause appreciable error in our interpretations. Further work on this phase is in progress.
Section of the splanchnics in the dog causes a decrease of approximately 50% in the blood glutathione, but no effect on the experimental diabetes following pancreatectomy. Acetone given by mouth in dosages of 6 ce. per kilo of body weight causes this gluta-thione-like substance to increase approximately 200% above normal and does not return to normal for approximately 3 days. Removal of the pancreas on the blood glutathione has been studied by Dott D. Ferrari. 2 Our results are at variance with his findings. Blood glutathione determinations before pancreatectomy in his dogs are not published.
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