With the availability of newer method to attain more exact analysis of serum protein using minute amounts of material, it was felt desirable to undertake a study of the protein in each of the trimesters of pregnancy and postpartum.
The changes in the total serum proteins and protein: fractions as determined. by Agar-gel micro-electrophoresis were investigated.
Determination of serum total proteins and various protein fractions were made cross-sectionally over 129 pregnant women, and in another 18 pregnant women two serial experiements were done. Control values were obtained of serum total protein in 58 and of protein fraction in 40 healthy non-pregnant women.
Serum total protein was determined by the Buries method with pooled human serum used as a standard, the concentration of which was determined by Micro-Kjeldahl Nitrogen analysis and factor of 6.25 was used to convert it to protein concentration.
Electrophorectic separation of serum protein was carried out by the modified method of Wieme, using tissue slide in the ice-box.
Distribution of the protein was determined after the tissue slide weres stained with Amidoschwarz B. The amount of dye bound by each of the separated fractions was estimated by Spinco Analytrol which gave simultaneously the optical density and the integral curves. The serum total protein was expressed in grams per 100 ml. of serum. Each serum protein fraction was expressed in terms of percent of total protein rather than absolute amounts to avoid the error introduced by multiplying percent values obtained in one set of unit.(dye-binding capacity) by total protein concentration in another set, of unit(biuret values)
Results were as follows
1) Serum total protein concentration fell in early normal pregnancy. and decreased as pregnancy advanced until postpartum
2) Serum albumin also decreased in early pregnancy and decreased as. pregnancy progressed until, postpartum.
3) The serum _1, and _z-globulin increased in early pregnancy and its peak values were seen on the 5th postpartum day.
4) The serum -globulin increased in early pregnancy and increased as pregnancy progressed. It
decreased on the 5th postpartum day but was still higher than controt group.
5 -globulin decreased in early pregnancy and persisted at subnormal levels throughout pregnancy.
6) In- the cord blood, serum total protein, albumin and -globulin fraction were higher, and 1,_2,and -globulin fraction were lower than corresponding maternal blood.
7) The reduction of the albumin and -globulin fraction seemed to be contributed in large measures to the decrease of serum total protein concentration noted in normal pregnant women.
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