Plasma angiotonase concentration in normal and toxemic pregnancies

663.

Abstracts because

the

resistant;

(2) rendered

an

organisms

antibacterial

natural

were:

substance;

selection;

(1)

resistant

or

(3)

(4)

in

with

obtained

an

phase at the time of exposure. In studying the mechanism ment of resistance

naturally

by contact

by

Plasma. Angiotonase Concentration in Normal and Toxemic Pregnancies ‘k ERNEST

insusceptible

W.

is the

NGIOTONASE

component

of the develop-

of micro-organisms

to strepto-

PAGE,

M.D.

term

applied

to that

of the renal pressor system

A

capable

inycin the method of testing was based on the twenty-four hour inhibition of growth of the

nespitc.

the widespread

distribution

and

activity

of angiotonase

in various

tissues,

we

organism

have

the

atnount

of

when fertile

tht:culture

medium.

hens’ eggs were used as

Using this method bacterial

shown

enzyme available

t)y 5 micrograms

chick

accounted

was

eclampsia,

embryo.

The

cultured

on

colonies

were

streptomycin. marked

mixed agar

individual colonies

suspension

plates

tested

and

for

of

colonies. were

the

individual

that

to

per fertile

was

that

resistant

found

required

the

most

over 100 times as much from

the

same

reduced

plasma

concentra

egg, it colonies

M’hen

ment

of plastna

concentration

non-pregnant

subjects,

nancies

ten

and

eclampsia.

In

encountered

cases

normal

of

normal

pregnancy,

the

trations,

but no correlation

between

components

making

up a resistant

coli were tested for their sensitivity inycin.

None

experiments

of the organisms and

demonstrated

was a natural

that

particular

influenced

any

by contact

support

sensitive

strains

of an organism

sensitivities

pensions

components.

the

theory

that

even

originally

con-

It was found that ‘the

of the individual are plotted.

of colony

of

had not been

components

formed a curve of distribution

sensitivities

to was

with the antibiotic.

results

organism

that

characteristic and

‘l‘hese

tain resistant

in these

exposure

resistance

component

of E.

to strepto-

tested

had had any previous

streptomycin

strain

It is suggested

mixtures

rather

of any if these

than

indi-

be

angiotonase anticipated

is the primary

angiotonin that

tonin

with

a blood

pregnant

short duration.

This

pressure

means

is destroyed,

would respond to intravenously

it

women

injected

angio-

rise of rciatively

was tested

and foimd

to

be true. that a deficiency

of angiotonase

is not the cause of the hypertension

It is concluded

in eclampsia.

Relation of the Distribution of Crash Injuries in Man to Those Observed in Animals during Experimental Deceleration t ROBERT

that sus-

vidual colonies should be used for tests of sensitivity to streptomycin in order to avoid the inadvertent testing of either extreme in the range of sensitivities of the various individual components, so that the average sensitiveness of the strain tested can be determined.

would

activity.

the enzyme

by which circulating

If plasma

or is a

there is a wider range of concen-

was

individual

preg-

there

distribution

the

of angio-

four to eightfold increase in angiotonase In eclampsia,

that

pre-rclatnpsia

level and the degree of hypertension.

when

in

in ten healthv

sixteen

results of the sensitivity tests were plotted, they formed a standard curve of distribution. Similar noted

tiorrs of

based upon the kinetics

8

be

hypertension

of blood 1)rcssurt: in

tonase activity has been applied to the mcasure-

the

streptomycin

strain.

human

for the elevation

was a

as the most sensitive ones even though they were all isolated

angiotonin of

theory”

of 2 and

of streptomycin

for

“deficiency

is normally If IIll: destruction.

disease. A method

to

62 per cent of the

micrograms

small

high

should

there

between

only

angiotonin.

angiotonase

sensitivity

sensitivities

Although

sensitive

then

100

their

It was found

variation

per

that

inactivating

which is free in the plasma

suspensions of colony mixtures of a single strain of Escherichia coli were found to be inhibited of streptomycin

of

N

the

past,

F.

RUSHMER,

information

M.D.

concerning

the

and characteristics of desirable nature protective devices and the methods of -I * From thr Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Medical School, San Francisco, Calif. t From the Department of Aviation Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Calif.