Tiselius Electrophoresis Studies of Plasma Proteins in Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

PLASMA proteins in diabetes mellitus have been extensively studied in the past; chemical precipitation has been used for estimating the albumin-globulin content. In hopes that further information might be obtained on changes in plasma-protein fractions in various stages of the disease, electrophoresis studies were undertaken. Longworth's modification of the Tiselius electrophoretic method was used to estimate the albumin, α-globulin, β-globulin and γ-globulin as well as fibrinogen in the plasma. Phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.8, ionic strength 1.6, was employed. Normal values determined in this laboratory on 21 normal subjects have been described(1). Total protein values were determined by Pregl's modification of the micro-Kjeldahl method for estimatin total and nonprotein nitrogen. The plasma, diluted with buffer after dialysis against the buffer solution for three days, is placed in a Tiselius cell (U shaped tube) and a boundary is formed by moving the buffer solution over the plasma. An electric current is then passed through the buffer, buffer-protein solution.