4 B KAO: aN fet , . ‘. - rr G12, 1948 A’ auG 18 1068 , First use of an original technique «hich has opened the way to a minutely cetotied enslysis of the steps by which the thyroid gland manufactures the secretion which cantirole tae rave of body function was described today by Dr. Robcrt Fink, research bilchemist, Sirmingham V.A. Hospital and associate ciinical professor of vhysiolovics] chemistry in the U.C.L.A. School of Medicine. Dr. Fink, member ef a husband and wife research team, discussed the new work in a talk given in a University Uxtension course at U.CeLoA. on “The Application of Nuclear Physics to the Biological and Medical Seienceso.” He suanarised results of “4 esearch performed in collaboration with his wife, Dr. Kathryn F. Fink, assistant clinical crofescor of olophysies in the U.C.L.A. School of Medicine. Teo r.cently developed medical riscerch tocls were combined by the Finks ta rroducé ihs rcmarkubly simple and sensitive new method for studying thyroid activity. “atzonutive isstepe tracer techniques were used in conjunction with what “filter :eperfLhromatography,® a sort of blot test cevised +n 1944 by a britivh researcher for the purpose of detecting different chemical components of a substance Ov muins of their differsnt degrees of solulbility. et In this pgPcedure, said Dr. Fink, a tiny drop of bedy fluid or tissue extres is pl. ced ona shoct of filter paper or spccdol blotting por or. 4 lievid i. applied to the filter paper in such a manner thet it “creeps down" the ma per like spilled ink wetting — bictter. The creeping licuid meets the original droplet of test material and csrries the chemical substances vrestnt in it along at different rates, depending on the sqluibility of vach particular components The paper then is sprayed with a suitable color reagent, «hich gives a Nohvoaatopran" showing colored spots corresponding tothe positions taken by the chemical subst:nces present in relatively high concentrations in the original droplet.. If radioactive substcnces are present, however, said Dr. Fink, a radioautogre of the colored filter panpsr is also prepared. A radioautograph could be called a "self-picture," and is made by plecing the filter paper crsinst a photographic film e in é dark room. fhediorctive subst nces on the filter paper wil! yixpose the film bg @ K