Novel Alterations in Sera from Pseudopregnant and Deciduoma-bearing Rats

Abstract

CONSIDERABLE attention has recently been focused on a new serum component of rats which was described by Darcy as being associated with rapid growth of tissue. Although it was not found originally in electrophoretically partitioned sera of healthy adult males or non-pregnant females, the protein was found in sera of foetal, neonatal, tumour-bearing, liver-regenerating, lactating, and pregnant rats^1–5. Identified as an alpha-l-glycoprotein, it has been shown to be synthesized by the liver during the acute phase of an inflammatory response⁶. An apparently identical component is present in the blood of rats experimentally poisoned by cadmium and other metals⁷ and in rats given single doses of Escherichia coli endotoxin⁸. A new protein migrating in the region of the alpha globulins has also been described in mice treated with a variety of toxic agents⁹.