[Analysis of the protein pattern in physiologic and pathologic vitreous bodies by electrophoresis and immunologic identification].

The protein composition of normal and pathological human vitreous was analyzed using gradient SDS-PAGE and western blot. By electroblotting and immunodetection, the presence of ten proteins was proven in the normal vitreous. The major proteins included: albumin, transferrin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and immunoglobulin G. For the detection of a distinct protein in the vitreous, western blot analysis seems to be an appropriate method. Using densitometric analysis of silver-stained gels, we compared the protein pattern of post-mortem vitreous, surgically obtained samples (from proliferative vitreous-retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and macular pucker patients), and serum. The protein composition of the pathological intraocular fluid was uniform, but different from that of normal vitreous and serum. These results suggest that a breakdown of the blood-retina barrier is the main reason for the increase of soluble proteins in the vitreous cavity under pathological conditions. The methods described allow detailed analysis of the vitreous protein pattern in intraocular proliferative disorders with a small sample volume (10 microliters).