Serum protein changes in experimentally induced amyloidosis in hamsters.

After inducing amyloidosis in hamsters by hyperimmunization with Di-Te-Per vaccine, their serum proteins were separated by electrophoresis. Results showed that the level of alpha 1 globulin increased and that of albumin decreased after 6-8 weeks of the hyperimmunization. Gamma-globulins increased by the 10th week of the study, then their level markedly decreased. Electrophoretic separation of the serum proteins refrigerated for 24 h at 4 degrees C showed the presence of a steadily increasing protein fraction induced by the prolonged immunization, which migrated in the prealbumin band. The fraction was observed in all phases of the experiments. This fraction was stained using selective methods for lipids. New bands appearing during electrophoretic separation of hamster serum proteins in amyloidosis may represent monomeric or polimeric forms of amyloid protein.