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Properties of the Gametokinetic Substance in the Feces of Dairy Cattle¹

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Michigan State College, East Lansing

ABSTRACT

Studies are reported that confirm the presence in bovine feces of a gametokinetic factor that will induce release of sperm in male amphibia. Male Rana pipiens frogs responded in a manner similar to that reported for the Indian toad Bufo melanostictus. The active substance was higher in feces of pregnant than of nonpregnant cattle, but its possible validity in pregnancy diagnosis was not evaluated. It is highly soluble in water and water-acetone mixtures. It is also soluble in pure n-butanol, but not in diethyl ether, chloroform, acetone, or ethyl alcohol. It is nondialyzable through a cellophane membrane. Partial inactivation occurred when extracts were dried at 94° C. However, appreciable inactivation did not result from boiling active solutions for as long as 1 hour. Inactivation was complete upon refluxing with 15% and 20% of concentrated HCl added, but was only partial with 10% HCl. Purified extracts failed to induce ovulation when injected into virgin doe rabbits. From the results obtained, it is concluded that the gametokinetic factor differs from the known gonadotrophins and also from the androgen previously described in cattle feces.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Series No. 1748.