METABOLISM OF WOMEN DURING THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE. XVII. CHANGES IN ELECTROPHORETIC PATTERNS OF PLASMA PROTEINS THROUGHOUT THE CYCLE AND FOLLOWING DELIVERY 12

Abstract

The study presents the results of electrophoretic fractionation of plasma proteins from 94 blood samples, 22 from 12 healthy non-pregnant women and 72 from 21 mothers during uncomplicated pregnancy, at delivery, and at intervals postpartum. For one subject samples were obtained before conception, during pregnancy, and postpartum. All women were in satisfactory nutritional state according to clinical observations and microchemical blood detns. for Hb, protein, vit. A, carotenoids, vit. C and alkaline phosphatase. The data show characteristic changes in total protein and plasma albumin and globulins (alpha1, alpha2, beta, gamma fractions, and fibrinogen) during the reproductive cycle. Within the range of values, however, the different women exhibited variations in physiological performance. The mean value for total plasma protein decreased during pregnancy; in the third trimester it was 13% below the non-pregnant value. Through delivery, plasma concn. trends were consistently downward for albumin and gamma globulin and upward for the alphai, alpha2, and beta fractions, and fibrinogen. Five to six days after delivery, means for all protein fractions differed significantly from the averages for non-pregnant subjects, both per 100 g. of plasma protein and per 100 ml. of plasma. 6-12 weeks postpartum the alphai and beta components differed significantly from the non-pregnant avg. values on the basis of 100 g. of protein; albumin and alphai differed significantly per 100 ml. of plasma. All other variations from preconceptional levels were not statistically significant.