SERUM PROTEINS AND PROTEIN BOUND CARBOHYDRATES IN RATS TREATED WITH ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC HORMONE

Abstract

Twenty rats served as controls. Sixteen rats divided into 4 groups were injected subcutaneonsly with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) with a daily dose of 1 I. U. for a period of 5, 10, 15, and 20 days,respectively. The rats injected with ACTH were killed the day after the end of treatment. It is established that the ACTH used had no contaminations. The total protein, the protein bound hexose, the hexosamine, and the sialic acid were determined for the blood serum. Two samples of the serum were also subjected to electrophoresis on filter paper: 1 for protein, the other for protein bound carbohydrates. A marked and significant increase in the total serum protein developed on the 5th day of treatment, was followed by a gradual decrease, and ended on the 20th day with slightly subnormal values, statistically significantly lower than in the control group. An initial alteration in the electrophoretic diagram, a decrease in relative concentration of albumin and an increase in the values for the globulin components was observed. The absolute concentrations were almost parallel for all fractions. The values decreased for all components later on. At the end of the observation period the alpha2 component was still slightly elevated, the gamma fraction was normal, while the albumin, alpha, and beta fractions as well as the total protein had reached subnormal values. The total of the polysac-charides bound to the proteins, and those bound to the + alpha1, group showed changes similar to those of the proteins. The carbohydrates of the alpha2 and gamma fractions tended to increase as a result of the hormone treatment. Those of the beta globulin tended to decrease.