February 1958 SCIENTIFIC
EDITION
possible storage sites for IPG or iodine metabolized
from it was discarded.
For its size, the thyroid gland is capable of storing
a large amount of iodide. However, the amounts
observed cannot be considered as representing sig-
nificant storage in comparison t o the total thera-
peutic dose, and the chromatograms did not detect
any IPG.
The possibility exists that the acetal portion of
IPG could be broken enzymatically t o release io-
dinated three-carbon residues, which might escape
detection as organic iodine by means of chloro-
form extracts because of higher water solubility.
However, this same alteration of solubilities should
have resulted in the appearance of separate entities
in the paper chromatographic studies, but no re-
producible evidence of separate entities was ob-
tained. This was not construed to mean that the
acetal ring is not broken in the metabolism of the
compound. It merely gave some evidence that, if
this does occur, it is probably after the iodine has
been removed.
The possibility exists of the release of iodine from
IPG in elemental form by a metabolic process of
general distribution in the body, with consequent
rzpid combination with body proteins. This could
be sufficiently widespread to be unobservable as a
storage in a specific tissue. Also, widespread low-
concentration storage of I P G itself in these tissues,
with relatively slow release of iodide, is possible.
These two mechanisms seem to be reasonable ex-
planations for the data obtained in the investigation.
The investigation of iodine storage in the thyroid
gland indicated that, following a single therapeutic
dose, the gland was able t o trap more iodine from
IPG than from potassium iodide, was able to convert
more of the iodide to thyroxin form from the IPG
dose, and able to maintain these higher iodine levels
over the comparison period studied. The investiga-
tioxs also revealed that the thyroid glands did not
trap IPG as such, but trapped iodide released from
IPG. The blood iodide levels alone, compared with
those of potassium iodide, do not constitute a reason-
Book Notices
A Glossary of Mycology. By WALTERH. SNELL
and ESTHERA. DICK. Harvard University Press,
Cambridge, Mass., 1957. xxxi + 171 pp. 17 x
26 cm. Price $5.
This dictionary includes among its 7,000 terms
some which are not strictly mycological but might
be useful to students because they do occur in my-
cological literature. Definitions referring t o the
fungi includes technical, popular, vernacular, and
obsolete terms; terms used in medical mycology
and antibiotics; folklore, and color terms; and
names of the originators of the terms. The type
is small, but this is typical of books in this and re-
lated fields. It should be a useful reference for
153
able explanation of this picture. The possibility
that this effect was the result of the use of a 60%-
glycerin solution as the vehicle for IPG exists, and
further work on this point is indicated.
From the prolonged duration of blood levels of
IPG following a single dose, it might be presumed
that in a course of therapy continuously effective
thyroxin-blocking levels of blood iodide would be
produced by IPG. Also, it might be considered
that these levels would be maintained with IPG
at a lower daily dosage than would be necessary with
potassium iodide.
It might be noted here that McKnight (1, 2) pro-
duced successful involution of hyperthyroid glands
and rapid cessation of thyrotoxic symptoms in the
patients with large (300 mg.), once-daily, intra-
venous doses of IPG, without untoward symptoms.
Comparison of data obtained in this investigation
with those of Broking (12). Bonanni (13), and Forbes
(14), on the rate of release of iodine from iodized
fatty acids and fats indicates that I P G releases io-
dine more rapidly than these compounds, and seems,
therefore, to be intermediate between them and
inorganic iodine compounds with respect t o the rate
of availability of its iodine.
REFERENCES
(1) McKnight R . B. N . Carolina Med. J . 7 590(1946).
(2) McKnight: R. B.:Southern Surgery, I;, 810(1947).
(3) Slaughter, D., Belogorsky, J. B., and Schwartz, C.,
Amer. Therab. Soc. Meetina. Boston. Auril 13-16. 1950.
(4) Slauehter. D.. S. Dakofa J . M i d . and Phorm.. 1.
425( 1948).
(5) Information supplied by Henry K. Wampole & C o . ,
Inc., Phila., Pa.
(6) Brochure, “Organidin@,”Henry K. Wampole & Co..
Inc., Phila. Pa.
(7) Brokn, H. B., and Page, I. H., Circulafion, 10, 714
(1954).
(8) Blau, N. F., J . Bio2. Chem., 110,351(1935).
(9) Owen. C. A.. and Power. M. A,. ibid.. ZOO. 111
(1953).
(10) Gross, J., Lehlond, C. P., Franklin, A. E., and Quas-
tel. J. H., Science 111, 605(1950).
( 1 1 ) Hoffnagle,’ G. F., Sideri, C . N . , and Osol. A., “Paper
Chromatography of IlSl-Labeled Iocl,?propylidene Glycerol
with Autoradiographic Identification to be published.
(12) Broking, E., 2. Exptl. Path. ’Therap:, 8 , 125(1910).
~. . IS. 120
(13) Bonanni.. A , . Z e n f r . Biochem. u BzoPhvs..
(iGi3).
(14) Forbes, J. C., THISJOURNAL, 37, 509(1948).
teachers, advanced students, and amateur and pro-
fessional mycologist s.
Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 23rd ed.
W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 1957.
xvii + 1,598 pp. 17 x 26 cm. Price $12.50.
This new edition of Dorland’s is bigger and, if
possible, better than ever. Accuracy, authority, and
quick usefulness remain the principal objectives of
this reference work. It has been reviewed, revised
and modernized. It is a s new as the recently coined
“ataractic” and “ataraxic,” with their blurred dif-
ference; the respective definitions being: “Per-