Evening star., 1948-10-04
Stors, Men and Atoms
New Drug Twice as Potent
As AdrenuIine Is Isolated
Substance to Constrict Blood Vessels
Obtained in Cleveland Clinic
Stors, Men and Atoms
By Thomas X. Henry

drug which constricts blood vessels ap-
parently twice as effective as adrenaline in
equal doses has been isolated from blood
serum.
Samples of this substance in crystal form
have been obtained at the Cleveland Clinic
Foundation, it is reported to the American
Association for the Advancement Of Science
by DR.. Irvine H. Page and his associates.
1t apparently Is very important factor in
blood clotting and the general reactions OF
the vascular system
The existence of something Of the sort
has been suspected for the past 80 years,
it is explained. Psychologists have known
that serum diffused through tissues has caused
some blood vessel construction but the ma
terial responsible has eluded search and
presumably exists in very minute quantities.
1t is only one Of the constructing agents
produced by the body. Best known OF these
is the emergency drug adrenaline, secreted
from the adrenal gland.
May Be Important.
There Is a possibility, it is reported that
the newly isolated substance, which has been
named serotonin, may have some Importance
IN medicine. In nature 1t Is believed to be
an agent for prevention Of the spread OF
hemorrhage into adjoining tissues.
When it was injected into dogs and cats
there was an immediate rise in arterial pres
sure. This was even greater when the SYM
pathetic nervous system was disconnected, an
operation now frequently resorted to in cases
of high blood pressure in humans. In q few
animals, however. very small doses at first
tended to dilate the blood vessels.
1t was possible to obtain measurable con-
strictions by injection into a rabbits ear Of
an amount less than a n1illionth Of a gram.
The noses of ticks are in their front legs.
This is one of evolutions quirks, as described
by DR.. R. E. Snodgrass of the Agriculture
Department in report just issued by the
Smithsonian Institution.
1t Is an exhaustive description Of the feed
ing organs of the arachnids-spiders, mites and
ticks-which constitute one of the earths
Oldest and most widely distributed classes Of
animals.
In rocks laid down on shallow beaches about
500000,00o years ago. geologists find fossils
OF sea animals known as trilcbites-very re-
motely related to the crabs and spiders of to-
day. For almost 1o000O,000 years they were
the dominant form of life on earth. They were
jawless creatures, having only mouth through
which they probably sucked mud into the all
gestible material might be contained In this
mud.
Spiders Ticks Are Exceptions
Since then jaws and other mouth parts
for grasping, tearing and crushing food have
been developed in the processes of evolution.
The spider and tick groups, however have
followed a different line and remain about
as jawless today as were their remotest
ancestors.
They must live on a liquid diet. Spiders.
in fact, must digest most of their food
before eating it. A powerful digestive fluid
from the stomach is discharged on the prey
and completely liquifies the soft tissues.
So effective Is this digestive fluid that
spiders can even devour small back-boned
animals, such as lizards and fishes, which
they kill by means of their poison fangs.
One African spider can completely liquify
a fish two inches long In about three hours
The tick Is peculiar in having the sense
OF smell located in its front legs. When
these are amputated the little bug shows
no reaction to odors In nature it recognizes
an animal as proper source Of food by the
sense of smell while combination Of warmth
and moisture from the skin gives q stimulus
for feeding.