PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS AS A QUANTITATIVE METHOD: THE STAINING OF SERUM LIPOPROTEINS

Abstract

Alpha and beta lipoproteins electro-phoretically separated on filter paper strips were stained for 18 hours at 30[degree]C in a saturated solution of oil red O in 60% ethanol (this solution was also prepared at 30[degree]C). The paper strips were rinsed in tap water and allowed to dry. The dye was eluted from the alpha and beta bands with an acetic acid -ethanol solution, and optical densities were read in a spectro-photometer. Direct optical scanning of the paper strips was also carried out. Results were obtained in terms of dye uptake by lipid insoluble in the staining solution, and satisfactory reproducibility of results was achieved with the use of a standard control. A semiquantitative estimation of serum lipoprotein distribution was obtained, and a critical study of the characteristics of this procedure was made. Some of these criteria are also applicable to other lipid staining methods.