STUDIES ON MERCURIC-IODIDE REACTION OF URINE

2. The essential substance involved in the reaction of method A

Abstract

The essential substance responsible for the reaction (a kind of colloidal reaction) modified by Yamazoe was studied. The results obtained were as follows :
1. Acid mucopolysaccharides, which may be present in urine, such as chondroitinsulfuric acid, hyaluronic acid and heparin, were not shown to be responsible for the reaction.
2. A mucoprotein fraction, which was precipitated by the addition of several times the volume of the alcohol to the urine specimen, showed a positive reaction, if its concentration was made higher than in normal urine. However, since in our method a highly diluted urine specimen is always used, the mucoprotein fraction also could not be regarded as responsible for the reaction. Also, Südhof's mucoprotein was responsible neither for this reaction, nor for Donaggio reaction.
3. Blood group-specific substance in urine had also no relation to the reaction, because it was easily precipitated by alcohol in contrast to the mercuric iodide reaction-positive substance.
4. The evidence of paper electrophoresis of the urine pigment, which was soluble in glacial acetic acid, lead us to the conclusion that urochrome is the essential substance involved in the reaction.