[Scrutinization of the direct assay method for plasma cyclic AMP and clinical applications of nephrogenous cyclic AMP].

Several problems in the measurement of plasma cyclic AMP (PcAMP) and nephrogenous cyclic AMP were studied using a YAMASA RIA Kit (YAMASA Shoyu, Choshi, Japan). In this assay method, cAMP in plasma is directly succinylated without prior deproteinization, and then it is bound to antibody in an imidazole buffer. So far as the blood samples were obtained with EDTA-4Na at least 5.0 mM in the final concentration, PcAMP was not reduced until 16 hours after the blood samples were drawn. Even without EDTA, the reductions in PcAMP were not detected within 1 hour after the blood samples were drawn. This assay method for PcAMP showed parallelism in the dilution curve. Recovery was almost complete. Intra- and interassay variations were low. When plasma was incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 hours, PcAMP became negligible. Furthermore, the values of PcAMP measured with this direct assay system almost agreed with those obtained after the purification by deproteinization and Dowex column chromatography through an anion-exchange resin. The normal values of PcAMP were 13.6 +/- 3.62 pmol/ml [mean +/- SD, n = 43]. Nephrogenous cAMP expressed as a function of GFR never did show any negative values in various clinical situations. From the data of basal levels and the oral calcium tolerance test, nephrogenous cAMP appeared to be more useful than total urinary cAMP in the diagnosis of parathyroid disorders, especially hyperparathyroidism.