Japanese minimum requirements for albumin preparations: recent amendments and current problems

The following amendments have been introduced to the Minimum Requirements for Human Serum Albumin (HSA) and Plasma Protein Fraction (PPF): 1) The upper limit of sodium content was fixed at 3.7 mg/ml; 2) test for chloride content was introduced; 3) sodium and chloride contents were required to be stated on the label; 4) use of zone electrophoresis was introduced in addition to the free-boundary electrophoresis; and 5) albumin content in HSA was lowered from 97% to 96%. Moreover, current problems in quality control which may require further amendments were discussed, namely: 1) limulus amoebocyte lysate test to replace or supplement the pyrogen test in rabbits; 2) attempt of quantitative expression of visual turbidity; 3) establishment of reference A and B blood group substances; 4) gel permeation analysis and scanning at 370-800 nm; and 5) test for prekallikrein activator (PKA).

Electron Microscopic Analysis of Subcellular Distribution and Translocation of Ca ION in Human Platelet

For the analysis of the subcellular distribution of Ca ion in human platelet, the washed platelet suspension was fixed in the potassium antimonate-OsO4 method or in the potassium oxalate-glutaraldehyde method without post-fixation with OSO4. The STEM-images were observed with scanning image system fitted with the transmission electron microscope without electron staining.

The dense deposition of antimonate or oxalate was found in plasmalemma, the membrane of open canalicular system, mitochondria, α-granules and dense bodies. It was revealed with the energy dispersive type electron probe x-ray microanalyzer system that the deposition of oxalate was exclusively composed of Ca.

In the process of platelet aggregation with various agents, α-granules and dense bodies were expelled out together with Ca, which suggested the least role of these ion depositions in the aggregation and clot retraction. The translocation of antimonate deposits was not observed in the Verapamil-treated platelets even after the addition of aggregation agents. This phenomenon indicated that this drug inhibited the release of Ca from the Ca-storing organelles. The distribution of Ca was identical in the platelets of a case of thrombasthenia and the translocation of Ca was not observed with the addition of various aggregating agents.

Participation of kallikrein, coagulation/fibrinolysis parameters in the development of glomerulonephritis

Masugi nephritis was induced in dogs in which platelet count, fibrinogen, antithrombin activity, plasma prekallikrein and immediate plasmin inhibitors were coincidentally decreased immediately after the injection of nephrotoxin serum. It was found that the grade of decrease of urinary kallikrein excretion following these immediate reactions were parallel with the grade of renal damages. By the pretreatment with heparin or the defibrination with snake venom, however, the histological findings of Masugi nephritis showed rather severe damage. Based on the consumption of coagulation factors, kallikrein, kinin and their inhibitors in the development of this nephritis, it was postulated that inauguration of coagulation and activation of kallikrein contributed to the development of glomerulonephritis. The treatment or prevention of this coagulation process with heparin or snake venom, however, gave untoward effects on the pathological process in this experiment.

Formation of soluble fibrinogen-fibrin complex in liquid human plasma; reflexion of coagulation process in storage

Analysis was performed on a high-molecular fraction with fibrinogen antigenicity present in Liquid Human Plasma. This fraction, although seemed to resemble macromolecular FDP (fibrinogen degradation product) derived from stabilized fibrin, has many features not shared with the latter: 1) This fraction is sensitive to sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) treatment. 2) Degradation products of this fraction obtained by digestion with plasmin, when eluted from a column of Sephadex G-200, exhibited a single peak of FDP-D antigenicity at the position of D-monomer. 3) In SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of dithiothreitol (DDT), no evidence for the presence of gamma-dimer was obtained. Thus, it is unlikely that the high-molecular fraction is formed through interchain cross-linking between fibrinogen molecules. The formation of the high-molecular complex was discussed in relation to coagulation process in stored plasma.

Purification and immunochemical characterization of human plasma factor XIII

A detailed study of the conditions for purification of plasma factor XIII was undertaken and an optimal procedure developed. This procedure involves adsorption with aluminum hydroxide, repeated fractionation with ammonium sulfate, heat denaturation of fibrinogen, precipitation with polyethylene glycol, cryoprecipitation, and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose with gradient elution. The specific activity of the final product, as measured by the fluorescent amine incorporation assay for factor XIII, averages about 3,000-4,000 mumol dansylcadaverine incorporation/mg protein. The yield is about 20%. In SDS electrophoresis the final product has two bands under nonreducing conditions, characteristic of the a and b subunits.