Analysis of radioactive phosphates in extracts of cerebral tissues

Abstract

A system of analysis of acid-soluble phosphates found in cerebral tissues, based on a paper-ionophoretic method, is described for use in the study of the metabolism of radioactive P. Trichloroacetic acid extracts of tissue are first fractionated into groups by barium precipitation. The Ba salts are then decomposed by a cation-exchange resin, and the resulting solutions are freeze-dried before separation of the phosphates by ionophoresis. The analysis of guinea-pig cerebral tissue by the method yielded results agreeing with values determined by other methods for some of the phosphates. The separation and precipitation of the Ba salts of several phosphates normally encountered in the analysis of cerebral slices. The centrifuging procedure employed can have a marked effect on the apparent total acid-soluble phosphorus extractable by trichloroacetic acid.