REGENERATION OF SERUM ALBUMIN WITH HYDROLYZED PROTEIN IN CHRONIC HYPOPROTEINEMIA PRODUCED BY DIET

Abstract

Search of the literature reveals no observations on the parenteral use of hydrolyzed protein in the regeneration of serum albumin in animals depleted of their plasma protein by diets deficient in protein. Such a diet has been used by many previous workers to produce hypoproteinemia. The most extensive studies were those of Weech and co-workers.¹ In studies of regeneration, these observers utilized intact proteins, such as meat, serum and casein, but did not employ hydrolyzed protein. Using the Weech diet, Mueller, Kemmerer, Cox and Barnes² showed regeneration values similar to those attained with casein when hydrolyzed protein was given by mouth. Increases in serum protein concentration were observed in operative patients with hypoproteinemia after the intravenous injection of the same hydrolyzed protein used in the experiments hereinafter described.³ The early experimental and clinical observations with hydrolyzed protein were summarized in a previous paper.⁴ EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Thirteen