Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of Spinal Fluid Proteins

Abstract

ELECTROPHORESIS of proteins on columns of polyacrylamide gel (disc electrophoresis) has recently been introduced as a technique for analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins. Disc electrophoresis offers high resolution, requires only a small sample volume, is a relatively simple and rapid technique, and can be subjected to a quantitative evaluation. In 1964 Cunningham published a series of five examples of CSF proteins separated by this technique.³ Using a "native" or unconcentrated sample mixed with sucrose and layered over a gel column, a minimum of 22 bands were separated from the fluids examined. Monseu and Cumings, using the same technique, presented results from 56 CSF's, including 30 controls.¹⁴ These authors distinguished an average of 14 bands in control fluids. A consistent deviation from the controls was thought to be present in seven cases of polyneuritis, while nine cases of multiple sclerosis were examined and found to have no