Immunoelectrophoretic Study of Rat Serum and Urinary Esterases

Abstract

Normal rat serum is separated electrophoretically into six protein bands and four esterase zones designated fast and slow ρ, anodal and cathodal A-α₁. These zones correspond on immunoelectrophoretic analysis with four esterase active precipitin lines identified as the ρ- and slow lipoprotein and two α-₁-globulins. The anodal A-α₁-zone corresponds with the rapid α₁-esterase precipitin line and has the properties of serum cholinesterase. Normal rat urine contains a potent γ-esterase that is absent in rat serum and is probably of renal origin. Rat, mouse and human serum esterases are compared with regard to esterase lipoprotein association, cholinesterase and ρ-esterase substrate specificity and inhibition, and presence or absence of albumin esterase.