THE IN VITRO FORMATION OF AN OXIDIZING AGENT BY SURVIVING TISSUES AND SULFANILAMIDE

Abstract

When sur-viving liver or kidney slices of the rat or mouse are incubated at 37[degree] with red cells in the presence of sulfanilamide, methemoglobin is formed. Incubation of tissue or sulfanilamide alone with red cells does not have this effect. The active agent is present in the supernatant fluid of the reaction between tissue and sulfanilamide, is not precipitated by trichloroacetic acid, is dialyzable and is relatively stable at 0[degree]. Reasons are given for the non-identity of this agent with the blue photooxidation product of sulfanilamide or with an anticatalyctic substance. The bactericidal activity of the agent remains to be studied.