Concentration of Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins and Their Fractionation by Cellulose Acetate Electrophoresis

Abstract

Various technics for concentrating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) prior to electrophoretic separation of the protein fractions were tested. Vacuum ultrafiltration through a collodion sac proved to be the most reliable and convenient method. The proteins in the concentrate were separated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and quantitated densitometrically. The mean values for the various protein fractions in normal CSF were the following: 4.9% pre-albumin, 61.5% albumin, 4.5% α₁ globulin, 6.7% α₂ globulin, 13.7% β globulin, and 8.8% γ globulin.