Duran-Reynals

Duran-Reynals, F., Exaltation de 1 activite du virus vaccinal par les extraits de certains organes, Comput. Rend. Soc. Biol., 99, 6, 1928. 

Duran-Reynals, F., The effect of extracts of certain organs from normal and immunized animals on the infecting power of virus vaccine virus, J. Exp. Med., 50, 327, 1929. 

In 1929 Duran-Reynals [1] described the spreading effect of testicular extracts. Following intradermal injection of a vaccinal virus mixed with the extract, an important increase in injury to the skin was observed. Further investigations using India ink provided additional evidence of the existence of a spreading factor, which promoted the diffusion of substances through the skin. 

In 1936 Meyer and coworkers [1] described an enzyme in autolysates of certain pneumococci that hydrolyzed hyaluronan. In 1940 Chain and Duthie [1] showed that the testicular extract described by Duran-Reynals also hydrolyzed hyaluronan. Similar activity was shown in virulent and avirulent strains of type I pneumococci, in group C hemolytic streptococci, in the skin of rabbits, in the venom of many poisonous snakes, and in bee venom. 

It seems likely that the fact that consumption of citrus fruits could cure scurvy was known or suggested very early on. Winslow and Duran-Reynals have quoted a thirteenth century Spanish medical tract recommending orange and lemon juice as being beneficial to scurvy sufferers. Similar statements are to be found over the next four centuries, but were not widely available, nor does there appear to have been a custom of widely reading the works of medical experts elsewhere in the world, even when they were available. It took an incredibly long time for something which seems obvious today to become accepted by the medical establishment. 

Duran-Reynals F. Evaluation de I activite du vims vaccinal par les extraits de certains orga-nes. C R Soc Biol. 1928 99 6-7. 

Duran-Reynals F, Murphy JB. Properties of the causative agent of a chicken tumor. I. The specific fixation by tissues of susceptible animals. J Exp Med. 1929 50 315-26. 

Stewart FW, Duran-Reynals F. A study of the generalization of vaccine vims from enhanced skin lesions. J Exp Med. 1929 50 341-53. 

Hyaluronidases. The properties of these enzymes and other mucopolysaccharidases have been reviewed by Fishman.Since these enzymes are involved in the hydrolysis of mucus, their function in fertilization and other types of cytolysis is extremely important. The significance of these enzymes in nutrition has been considered by Duran-Reynals. ... 

Many people should be mentioned to whom I am greatly indebted for help in those formative years. Since the list would be too long, and it would be of little interest to most readers, I will only mention here, as a major influence in my decision to pursue research as a career, the name of Francisco Duran-Reynals, who was then on the staff of the Rockefeller Institute, and who arranged the invitation for me to spend some time at the Rockefeller Institute Hospital, with Dr. Donald D. Van Slyke. 

Hyaluronidase was discovered by Meyer and co-workers (126,127) in autolyzates of type II pneumococcus. The biological significance of this enzyme became apparent when Chain and Duthie (18,19) presented evidence for the identity of hyaluronidase and Duran-Reynals spreading factor. The suggested enzymic character of the spreading phenomenon (19,101), corroborated by the demonstration of hyaluronic acid in skin (19), initiated a period of intensive study of the chemistry and physiology of the hyaluronic acid-hyaluronidase system. The enzymic and non-enzymic agents which promote dermal diffusion have been reviewed authoritatively by Duran-Reynals (31). 

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