Spermine

SPERMINE, the name given in 1890 by Professor A. Pell to a crystalline body with the formula C₆H₁₄N₂, obtained by chemical treatment of extracts from human semen and various organs. According to Pell, S. is a base that is obtained as a colorless oil that quickly hardens into a mass of needle-shaped crystals; it is easily soluble in water, ethyl and butyl alcohol, insoluble in gasoline and ether; it easily adsorbs carbon dioxide from the air and becomes liquid; optically inactive. Pell released 2% and 4% aqueous solutions of hydrochloric spermine under the name of spermine for sale. In more recent times, Wrode, as well as Dudley, Rosenheim and Starling analyzed the structure of S. and obtained it synthetically. According to Wrode, the base has the formula CnH_2nN4. Pell initially believed that in extracts from testes this substance has fundamental importance. As it turned out later, this crystalline substance, known under the name of spermatin crystals, was discovered even earlier (by Leeuwenhoek in 1678) and studied by Schreiner in 1878, Ladenburg and Abel in 1888. Although spermine has very strong catalytic action, increasing oxidative processes in the body, it is not a male sex hormone and does not have hormonal action (see Testicular preparations). At present, S. represents specially prepared preparations from the testicles and spleen of large and small livestock (preparations-spermine, spermol, sper-mocrin, spermolienol, etc.). Chemically and pharmacologically they are not homogeneous. S. in its most common form represents a transparent, straw-yellow colored liquid with almost no taste, with a weak odor; contains 30% to 60% alcohol. For subcutaneous administration it is prepared in ampoules and contains no alcohol. The method of obtaining S. and similar preparations is based on extraction of active substances from testicles by various solvents. S. mixes in all proportions with water. Cloudiness or precipitate during prolonged storage indicates incomplete removal of protein, but the action usually does not change from this. Standardization of S. at present is based on the ability of S. to cause dilation of the coronary vessels of the heart. The object used is the isolated cat heart. The basis of the therapeutic application of S. is the tonic effect exerted by extracts from testicles. Numerous authors confirm such action of S. and other similar preparations, while many doctors have a skeptical attitude toward these preparations, whose action they explain by psychological influence. Although it cannot be denied that such influence in humans may take place, it is excluded in experiments on animals. S. stimulates the nervous, muscular system and is an activator for processes of an analytical and synthetic nature occurring in the body. The vital activity of tissues increases, assimilation processes also increase, cardiac activity improves, leukocytosis increases and the oxidative capacity of blood increases. Data from experimental research conducted on the isolated heart showed that spermine and similar preparations cause a sharp intensification of systolic contractions of the cat heart and increase the body's resistance to the action of various harmful agents. According to Wrode, the physiological significance of S. probably consists in that it is a factor of movement during ejaculation of semen. A favorable effect of these preparations was observed in arteriosclerosis, chronic myocarditis, cardiac weakness in cases of obesity, general weakness, nervous fatigue, various chronic intoxications, in infectious and other diseases as a strengthening and tonic remedy. S. is administered orally 30-40 drops 2-3 times a day, with water (alkaline water is desirable but not necessary). For subcutaneous administration, ampoules and 2 cm³ are used, one ampoule per day or every other day. Tablets, one tablet 3 times a day. S. does not possess toxicity and does not cause harmful side effects. Y Lit.: L i k h a c h e v A. and N i k o l a e v M., On the influence of Pell's spermine on vessels of isolated kidneys, spleen and testicles, Leningrad med. journal, 1927, № 5; Nikolaev M. and Ponomarev I., On the combined action of spermine and adrenaline on the heart and blood pressure, Russ. physiol. zhurn., 1923, № 5; Ponomarev I., On the combined action of spermine and adrenaline on peripheral vessels, ibid., 1929, №4; Yachnikov N., On the chemical standardization of spermine. Vestn. chir., 1929, № 1; Foehl A., The physico-chemical foundations of the spermine theory, St. Petersburg, 1898; Reprew A., Spermine, an oxidation-ferment, Arch. f. d. ges. Physiol., Vol. CLVI, 1914; Wre-de F. u. Bank E., On the knowledge of spermine, Ztschr. f. physiol. Chem., Vol. CXXXI, 1923.

A. Rabinovich. SPERMOVIUM, the egg-cell (in general biological terminology the zygote), the name of the egg from the moment of entry of the spermatozoon, i.e. fertilization. The stage of S. is short-lived, since the fertilized egg immediately begins to divide and breaks down into blastomeres. S. contains all the hereditary rudiments received by the organism from father and mother; they are contained mainly in the male and female pronuclei, i.e. the sperm and egg nucleus (karyogenes). In addition, the spermatozoon introduces the centrosome into the egg in place of the disappearing centrosome of the egg and mitochondria, which scatter throughout the egg, mixing with the mitochondria of the egg cell (Meves). The entry of the spermatozoon also entails a series of changes in the body of the egg cell, as a result of which S. receives a special architecture, i.e. the distribution of substances, studied mainly in some invertebrates, where it appears especially sharply (ascidians, Conklin), but also noticeable in vertebrates (frog).