Studies on Serum Haptoglobin in Experimental Connective Tissue Disorders.

Abstract

Serum haptoglobin was studied in guinea pigs and rabbits in normal animals and after experimental production of connective tissue damage such as in acute scurvy, carrageenan granuloma, turpentine-induced amyloidosis, and intravenous injection of different enzymes (papain, elastase, hyaluronidase, trypsin, chymotrypsin); controls received intravenous ovalbumin and saline. Significant increase of serum haptoglobin was found in acute scurvy (average 8 times normal), carrageenan granuloma (4 times normal) or both combined (5 times normal), and after intravenous injection of papain. elastase and of hyaluronidase (average of 2 to 2.5 times normal). Particularly striking results were obtained with papain and elastase which in some cases produced an increase in haptoglobin up to 7 times the starting value. These methods may be used to obtain reproducible experimental hyperhaptoglobinemia.