Urinary protein fractions in healthy subjects using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis followed by staining with acid violet 17.

We fractionated normal urinary proteins obtained from 40 healthy subjects using cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis and stained them with Acid Violet 17. The electrophoretic patterns were classified into four groups. Each of groups I, II, III, IV had an albumin peak and 1, 2, 3, and 4 additional globulin peaks, respectively. Within-day variation study showed that the pattern was fundamentally specific to the individual, although some intermediate cases were observed. We were unable to determine which type was standard for normal subjects. However, the concentration of Tamm-Horsfall protein was speculated to be an important factor in determining the patterns. Group III showed significantly higher values than group I in urine albumin, total protein, and beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase and this group was believed to include subjects in the subclinical stage of a glomerular disease. All specimens belonging to group IV showed an obvious fraction of alpha 1 globulin which is often found in urine specimens of patients with renal diseases of tubular origin or other pathological conditions.