Alteration in Permeability of Some Membranes by Hyaluronidase and Inhibition of this Effect by Steroids

Abstract

Permeability of the lens membrane was measured by immersing freshly excised lenses of rabbits and frogs in physiological saline soln. and in distilled water. Normally there is no significant release of protein in either physiological saline or distilled water during the first hour of incubation at 38[degree]C. There is slow but progressive turbidity in distilled water. The addition of purified testicular hyaluronidase (Hydase, Wyeth) (assay: 7000 to 9400 turbidity reducing units per mg. of N),to make a 0.05% soln., markedly increased the turbidity of the distilled water during the first hour and caused significant release of protein into the saline or distilled water supernatant. Excised urinary bladder of rabbits was used as the semipermeable membrane in osmometers containing [image] sucrose. Hyaluronidase (2 [mu]g./ml.) reversibly increased the rate of osmosis and abolished semi-permeability. Desoxycorticosterone enhanced the effect of hyaluronidase. Alarm reaction (colchicine) products released during the alarm reaction, and cortisone were most efficient in rendering the membrane impermeable even in the presence of hyaluronidase. Estrone, equilin, equilenin, adrenal cortical extract, testosterone, and cholesterol acted in the same direction, but were less efficient. The permeability of striated and cardiac muscle and frog skin was not affected by hyaluronidase.