The hœmolytic action of sodium glycocholate

This paper contains a detailed investigation into the action of sodium glycocholate, and into certain phenomena in which this salt plays an important part. The presentation of this research is a matter of some difficulty, since the observations recorded constitute merely the outlines of a very complex subject. It has been thought best, even at the expense of some lack of logical sequence, to present the problems more or less in the order in which they presented themselves for solution, the reader being thus taken over the several questions in the order in which they were investigated. To avoid undue length, no detailed description of methods used is given, if such description is to be found in a previous paper, on the findings of which this work is based (1).The Physical Condition of Solutions of Bile Salts . Although there is no definite- statement on the subject, the general opinion appears to be that sodium taurocholate and sodium glycocholate form true solutions in water. If this be so, it is remarkable that they possess properties peculiar to colloids. If sodium taurocholate be dissolved in water, a clear yellow solution results. This clearness soon disappears, the solution becomes opalescent and, after about 12 hours, quite opaque. The opalescence is caused, presumably, by the taurocholate passing into a physical state other than that in which it was when first dissolved. The opalescent solution has all the properties of a taurocholate solution; its hæmolytic activity is as great as is that of a clear solution of the same strength. A difference appears on filtering the opalescent solution; the filtrate has a less hæmolytic power than the original solution. This fact, together with the opalescence, suggests that the taurocholate has assumed a less dispersed form.