Studies on diffusing factors. III

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Abstract
Crude rattlesnake (Crotalus t. terrificus) venom contains a factor similar to the testicular diffusing factor. Accompanying it is another factor which causes slow spread of indicators through the skin. Rabbits immunized against the venom respond only to the diffusing factor. The crystalline neuro-toxic protein of the venom (crotoxin) does not show the characteristic spreading properties of diffusing factors, although it causes a slow spread of indicators through the skin. Although crude rattlesnake venom and Clostridium welchii filtrates have proteolytic activity it is unlikely that this is associated with the diffusing factors, since testicular diffusing factors have no such activity. The diffusing factors from testicle and Cl. welchii are adsorbed by ortho aluminium hydroxide C from which they are eluted by Na2CO3 or disodium hydrogen phosphate solns. The similar behavior of the factors from these sources suggests that they are closely related proteins.