In order to understand the genesis of ascitic fluid and the correlation between serum and ascitic fluid, proteins in serum and ascitic fluid of patients with ascites-forming diseases were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and the electrophoretic patterns were compared. Also studied were proteins and ribonucleases in serum and ascitic fluid, fractionating them by the method of DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The results obtained were as follows:
1. Both serum and ascitic fluid proteins were separated into 12 bands by native-PAGE, and the electrophoretic pattern of the ascitic fluid appeared to be similar to that of serum except for greater band size in serum than in ascitic fluid. As compared with those of serum, ratio of band S to 1 (A/G ratio) was greater and bands 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were more or less separated indefinitely in ascitic fluid.
2. Both serum and ascitic fluid proteins were also separated into 13 bands by SDS-PAGE. The electrophoretic pattern of ascitic fluid was similar to that of serum, but bands 1, 2, 3 and 11 were separated indefinitely in ascitic fluid than in serum.
3. DEAE-cellulose column chromatographic analyses revealed that serum proteins were fractionated into 6 peaks and ascitic fluid proteins into 5 peaks. Ratio of each of peak protein content to total protein content eluted from the column showed difference between some of corresponding serum and ascitic fluid peaks, and ratio of ascitic protein content to that of serum in each of the respective peak were observed to be less than one.
4. Both serum and ascitic fluid RNases were fractionated into 5 peaks by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. As was the case with the protein patterns, ratio of each of peak RNase activity to total enzyme eluted from the column showed difference between some of corresponding serum and ascitic fluid peaks. Ratio of ascitic RNase activity to that of serum in each of respective peak were, however, observed to be greater than one.
These results suggested that ascitic fluid proteins in patients with ascites forming diseases might be originated, ´in greater extent, from proteins flown
selectively from the blood and in lesser extent, from proteins flown directly from the lesions responsible for ascitic forming diseases.
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