Applications of polarography to diagnosis. III. Mechanism of the production of the polarographic wave in blood serum

Abstract

The blood serums, either normal or pathological, addition of glutathione and cystine have no influence en the height of the typlcal double wave.

In all tests the height of the double wave increaeses as time goes on and proprotionally wlth proteolysis up to a certain limit, in which the liberation i-t. polaro- graphically active groups ceases. These groups are nelther glutathione níƒor cystine but must be peptsydes not precipitable through sulphosalicile aeld.

The proteolytic action due to ferments and is much greater at 37" C than at 0" C, althgough at this latter temperature the former are not totally inhibited.

This action is devedoped in normal as well as in pathological serums and can be measured wlth the techníque employed.

In pathological serums the action of glutathione has a primary accelerating affect and acodérate the liberation oí polarographlcally active groups endlng generally after 48 hours.

In pathological serums the action oí glutathione has a primary accelerating effect of short duration, as after 20 hours an inhibition oí the height and an inversión in relation to simple serums is observed.

In the conditions oí our experiments the action of cystlne is always greater than that of glutathione.

The maximum ot the fundamental solution is the less acused the hlgher the curve is, and may disappear in curves corresponding to intensely protcolizcd serums (ir by addition of compounds of the type of cystlne or glutathione.