Abstract
Crystalline urobilin, as isolated from feces by the writer's method, 1 , 2 may be administered intramuscularly or intravenously without untoward reaction. In the present investigation it was customary to dissolve 50 mg. of the recrystallized hydrochloride in 2 cc. of 95% alcohol. After dilution with 8 cc. of physiological saline containing .1 gm. of sodium bicarbonate the resultant solution was sterilized in the autoclave for 15 minutes at 15 lb. pressure. Recovery experiments have shown that the substance is not damaged by this treatment.
Urobilin does not give an Ehrlich reaction; consequently, it was surprising to find, after parenteral injection of the above mentioned solutions, that the Ehrlich reaction of the urine regularly became positive or intensified within one-half to 2 hours. It was evident that the substance had become reduced somewhere in passing from muscle or blood stream to the urine. The possibility had to be considered that the added load on the liver occasioned by a sudden addition of 50 mg. of urobilin to the circulation had caused it to refuse native urobilinogen coming from the bowel. This possibility was excluded by administration of crystalline urobilin to an individual with complete neoplastic common duct obstruction, whose urine and feces contained no urobilinogen. Following an injection of 50 mg., either intramuscularly or intravenously, the Ehrlich reaction of the urine became strongly positive within one to 2 hours. Studies are now in progress to determine the site of this reduction in the body. It is evident that all of the injected substance is not reduced, since unchanged urobilin may -be demonstrated spectroscopically in the fresh urines obtained one-half to 4 hours after its administration.
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