THE NATURE OF THE REDUCING SUBSTANCES IN THE BLOOD SERUM OF LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS AND IN THE SERUM, CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AND AQUEOUS HUMOR OF CERTAIN ELASMOBRANCHS

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Abstract
The total reducing substances reported as mgm. glucose per 100 cc. by the method of Folin and Wu (1920) were determined in the serum of L. polyphemus in 12 instances; in the serum of elasmobranchs in 7 instances; in their cerebrospinal fluid in 5, and aqueous humor in 2 instances. The level of glucose in the sera of Limulus was relatively constant, varying only from 10 to 22 mgm. per 100 cc. In the elasmobranchs the blood sugar varied from 36 to 190, asphyxial elevations having undoubtedly occurred in some instances. The difference in the level of total reducing substances in the blood of Limulus and of the elasmobranchs is interesting in view of the relative activity of the 2 groups. Yeast fermentation was done in all the samples studied by the method described by Benedict (1928). Hydrolysis was done according to the method of Folin and Berglund (1922) in the 12 specimens of Limulus. In the sera of Limulus the residual reducing substances after fermentation varied from 0 to 3 mgm. per 100 cc. and averaged 1.5. In the fluids from elasmobranchs there was in 1 instance a residual of 5 mgm. per 100 cc, but the average was only 2. The greatest change in reducing substances of the blood of Limulus with hydrolysis was 5 mgm. glucose per 100 cc, while in 8 of the 12 cases there was a change of 2 mgm. per 100 cc. or less. These changes are too slight to be of significance. Considering the limits of error of the methods used, it may be said that the total reducing substances in serum, cerebrospinal fluid and aqueous humor examined are fermentable by yeast and not changed by mild HC1, and are therefore probably glucose.

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