QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PROTEIN IN BLOOD SERUM AND IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID OF PSYCHOTICS —THE POLAROGRAPHIC AND ELECTROPHORETIC STUDIES—

SUMMARY By the use of the polarographic method and paper electrophoresis, the proteins in the serum and in the CSF of schizophrenic, epileptic, and general paretic groups were examined. The examinations for the serum were carried out on 157 cases and for the CSF on 139 cases with the use of PLG; for the serum on 157 cases and for CSF on 105 cases with the use of PEP and a normal group were used as the controls. A comparison of the results from the serum and the CSF according to each symptom type group, the qualitative difference of the proteins is discussed.1)  In the normal group the difference between the quantity of the proteins in the serum and in the CSF is great with marked qualitative difference. The PLG findings show that the SH group activity of the protein surface is higher in the CSF than in the serum, while those of all three types are higher in the serum. The PEP findings show that the v‐fraction is contained only in the CSF and that there is a difference between the fraction patterns in terms of the percentage of the protein and glycoprotein. 2)  As to the PLG findings, the schizophrenic group as a whole showed protein surface SH group activity in the CSF and mucoprotein SH group activity in the serum higher than the normal group. Consequently, there was a disparity between the CSF/serum ratio of each and that of the normal group. The PEP findings showed an increase of the u‐fraction of the CSF above the normal and in most cases a decreases in Al and α 2 ‐Gl in the glycoproteins of both the fluids. As to the CSF/serum ratio, that of the γ‐ and β‐Gl is lower and of α 1 ‐Gl higher than the normal. As to the glycoprotein, Al and α 2 ‐Gl are smaller and α 1 ‐, β‐, and γ‐Gl greater than the normal. The differences according to the case development and symptom types were discussed. 3)  In the intermittent period between epileptic seizures, the protein surface SH group activity is higher in the CSF and lower in the serum than in the normal, while the mucoprotein SH group activity is lower in the CSF and higher in the serum than in the normal; with a resulting variation in the CSF/serum ratio. As regards the PEP findings, many cases showed an v ‐fraction and α 2 ‐Gl increase in the CSF, and an α 1 ‐Gl increase and Al, and α 2 ‐Gl decreases of the glycoproteins. In comparison with the normal group CSF/serum ratio, Al, α 1 and α 2 ‐Gl showed a higher ratio and γ‐Gl, a lower ratio, whereas in glycoprotein α 1 ‐, and γ‐Gl were higher and α 2 ‐ and β 2 ‐Gl lower. 4)  The general paresis groups examined were chronic cases. In them, both the serum and the CSF showed an increase in the proteins. In spite of the PLG finding that the protein SH group activity in each is higher than the normal, the CSF/serum ratio is nearly the same as the normal. The PEP findings showed many cases of v ‐fraction, γ‐, and α 2 ‐Gl increases in the CSF, and α 1 ‐Gl increase in the serum. As to the glycoprotein, many cases showed α 1 ‐, α 2 ‐ and γ‐Gl increases and Al, α 2 ‐, and α 2 ‐Gl decreases in the CSF, and a β‐Gl increase in the serum. Al and γ‐Gl were high in the CSF/serum ratio, and α 1 , and β‐Gl were low; α 1 ‐ and γ‐Gl of the glycoprotein, were high, and Al, α 1 ‐ and β‐Gl low. 5)  In general, the CSF showed greater changes than the serum in spite of the fact that the former is smaller in quantity than the latter. A discussion was attempted concerning the qualitative difference between the serum and the CSF.