Cadaverine and Putrescine
In two common infections of the vagina, bacterial vaginosis (and sometimes in trichomonas vaginalis) your doctor may do a “whiff” test, where he or she takes some discharge, drops some potassium hydroxide on it (a base, KOH) and smells it for a fishy, foul odor. The base causes some foul-smelling amines to be released: cadaverine and putrescine. What great names.
Interestingly, some women will complain of foul odor after intercourse, and the reaction is the same: semen is basic, and when it mixes with the discharge, you get the same release of cadaverine and putrescine. Cool.
Cool or super gross? I’m not sure….
Don’t really want to think of finding cadaverine and putrescine in my vajayjay one day….
I almost killed the ob intern who made me do the “whiff test” in clinic. The “cadaverine and putrescine” combo is so foul I nearly puked. After that I started throwing out the samples (after seeing the clue cells, of course) “accidentally” before I could add the KOH.
I just studied amines in orgo, and the professor mentioned cadaverine and putrescine. good to know they have some actual application! (I knew about the whiff test with KOH but i didn’t know that it was a base-catalyzed reaction or that cadaverine and putrescine were the products being “whiffed” for)
Cool or super gross? I’m not sure….
the correct term, vis a vis adult swim’s “metalocalypse”, is: “BRUTAL!”
cadaverine and putrescine: that’s the title of my next album.