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A Mucolytic Enzyme in Testis Extracts

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Abstract

WE have recently described a polypeptide, isolated from peptic protein hydrolysates, which is chemotactic to leucocytes and increases the pormeability of capillaries1. It is probably closely related to Menkin's ‘leukotaxine’2. As a result of this work we became interested in another permeability-increasing substance, known as the ‘spreading factor’3. This substance, which is present in large amounts in testis extracts and certain bacterial filtrates, is a protein and is active in dilutions so low as 10-8. It acts by increasing the permeability of the dermal layer of the skin, as demonstrated by the flattening of the wheal and the rapid spread of intradermally injected solutions of dyes, bacterial toxins and particulate matter in suspension.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford

    E. CHAIK & E. S. DUTHIE

Authors
  1. E. CHAIK
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  2. E. S. DUTHIE
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CHAIK, E., DUTHIE, E. A Mucolytic Enzyme in Testis Extracts. Nature 144, 977–978 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/144977b0

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