Purification and mode of action of a sodium-retaining stimulating factor

Abstract

A method is described for the purification from urine and blood of a substance capable of inducing sodium retention when injected into intact hydrated rats. This procedure includes the following steps: a) dialysis, b) extraction of the nondialyzable fraction with 80–85% ethanol, c) precipitation from the ethanol solution by the addition of ether, d) electrophoresis in polyvinyl blocks of the ether precipitant at pH 4.2, and e) partition chromatography. A bio-assay on intact hydrated rats to determine the presence of the activity was used throughout the purification procedures. The active material was recovered from the urines of hypophysectomized animals and of adrenalectomized animals. The sodium-retaining effect could not be demonstrated in the adrenalectomized animals. The significance of these findings is discussed.