Abstract
We established a method for quantitative analysis of urinary components by capillary electrophoresis using SDS containing buffer. This method was applied for analyses of urine samples from healthy subjects, diabetic patients at pre- and early nephropathic stages. The urine electropherograms in healthy subjects, diabetics at pre- and early nephropathic stages had 44, 46 and 53 peaks at maximum, respectively. Out of these peaks, 10 peaks were identified. The urine components were separated by this method according to their molecular sizes, which were estimated from their migration times using standard proteins. However, the glycoproteins linked with a larger number of sugar chains, such as α1-acid glycoprotein and Tamm-Horsfall protein showed a tendency to be overestimated in their molecular sizes. Generally, the urine electropherograms of healthy subjects and diabetics revealed that the peak numbers increased especially in higher molecular size in accordance with development of renal impairment. From these results, the urine electropherograms give us a suitable information not only as the stage of glomerular but tubular impairment and an early prediction of diabetic nephropathy.
