Glucuronic acid determination (Tollens) in duodenal obstruction. 1

Abstract

While the liver generally plays a subordinate part in the synthesis of glucuronic acid, it would seem from the experiments of Pohl (1), that upon the incorporation of chloral-hydrate or camphor, the conjugation of these substances with glucuronic acid does take place largely in that organ.

We have been interested in seeking a measure of the functional activity of the liver before and after experimental duodenal obstruction. By giving a dog camphor and determining the output of camphor-glucuronic acid, both before and after obstruction, we hoped to measure at least in a relative way any impairment in liver function which may follow this intestinal lesion.

The experiments were carried out on dogs—the operative portion under complete ether anesthesia. The animals were fed for fully a week on an exclusive meat diet in order to free the urine as much as possible from pentoses.

For the glucuronic acid determinations we employed one of the two methods described by C. Tollens (2, 3), viz., distillation of the glucuronic acid lacton with dilute hydrochloric acid, and precipitation of the resulting furfurol with phlorglucin. This method seems open to less objection that most of the other quantitative methods which have been proposed. In the hope of further determining the accuracy of our results, we are now experimenting with the CO₂ method described by Tollens.

The experiments here reported were carried out as follows: The glucuronic acid excreted during one or two 24-hour periods was determined and used as a normal. According to Tollens, the variations in the daily quantities of glucuronic acid are very slight, if the diet is uniform.

From 2 to 5 gm. of commercial camphor dissolved in olive oil were given subcutaneously and the camphor-glucuronic acid excretion in the urine determined for three to four 24-hour periods.