Agarose gel electrophoresis of duodenal juice in normal condition and in children with malabsorption.

Agarose gel electrophoresis (at pH 8.6) was used for qualitative determination of pancreatic enzymes in duodenal juice. The various enzymes were identified by staining techniques with specific chromogenic substrates, by quantitative determination of enzymes in eluates of gel slices, and by immunoelectrophoresis. The various protein bands corresponded to the following enzymes (from the anode to the cathode): chymotrypsin, trypsin, carboxypeptidase A, chymotrypsin, amylase (around the slit), lipase, elastase, and trypsin. The method was applied to a study of exocrine pancreatic function in 10 adults and 83 children suspected of having malabsorption. The duodenal juice, also analyzed for trypsin and amylase content, was collected in fasting condition and after a test meal of water. In patients with normal pancreatic function, all the enzyme bands were present and easy to recognize. In 87 patients carboxypeptidase A was present as two bands in 68 (80%), anodal trypsin as two bands in 39 (45%), and cathodal trypsin as two bands in 85 (97%). Electrophoresis of duodenal juice gave as much information from the fasting sample as after the test meal. Six children with pancreatic insufficiency (cystic fibrosis and Shwachmar's syndrome) had no or only faintly stained enzyme bands and a strongly stained albumin-containing band most anodally. The method is simple, rapid, and useful in routine work. The combination of this qualitative test with a quantitative one (e.g. trypsin determination) provides good information about exocrine pancreatic function.