PLASMA PROTEIN FORMATION IN VITRO BY TISSUES FROM MICE INFECTED WITH STAPHYLOCOCCI

Abstract

By culturing tissues from organs of Rockefeller NCS mice in a medium containing C14-labeled lysine and isoleucine, it was determined which of the major plasma proteins are produced by the various tissues, and how the formation of these proteins is affected by acute intravenous infection with Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus (Giorgio). Following the culture period, medium was concentrated, added to mouse serum carrier, and submitted to immunoelectrophoresis on microscope slides. When the slides were fully developed, washed, and dried, autoradiograms were made. In infected animals there is hyperactivity of liver tissue in producing albumin, [alpha]- and [beta]- globulins, and of spleen tissue in producing the immune globulins. The observed increase in labeling of some proteins by tissues from infected mice is correlated with an increase of certain proteins circulating in the serum at the time the tissues were taken.