Separation of the high molecular weight components of gastric juice on a column of Dowex 50 X-8 has been described. Results obtained by applying the method for normal control gastric juice were compared with those obtained by analyses of carcinomatous gastric juice and of non-carcinomatous histamine-refractory achlorhydric gastric juice.
1. Seven different protein fractions have been obtained by this method.
2. Of the two main polysaccharide-containing fractions, P-I and P-III, neither was proved to be free of protein. Paper chromatography of gastric juice also was sufficient to exclude complete separation of polysaccharide and protein.
3. In the chromatogram of carcinomatous gastric juice, a noteworthy increase in hexose content and a decrease of tyrosine content were found to occur. P-III also was found to be similarly changed, and polysaccharide components found in P-V of the control specimen was found to be absent in carcinomatous sample. The above finding may suggest qualitative and quantitative alteration of mucoprotein and mucoproteose components of gastric juice in the presence of gastric carcinoma.
4. Histamine-refractory achlorhydric gastric juice selected from patients with chronic gastritis and chronic or recurrent gastric ulcer showed a chromatogram having a character intermediate between the control and the carcinomatous gastric juice. However, increases of polysaccharide components other than hexose in P-I was not so remarkable as was observed in carcinomatous gastric juice.
5. High polarographic activity was observed in P-I of all samples examined, the activity in carcinomatous specimen being the strongest of all. P-III of carcinomatous sample was also found to have a remarkably strong polarographic activity.
6. Strongly increased contents of polysaccharide components, including SA, in P-I and P-III of carcinomatous gastric juice may suggest the possibility of biochemical diagnosis of carcinoma of the stomach with DPA reaction.
7. Possible significance of histamine-refractory achlorhydria among chronic gastric disorders as a fucntional pre-carcinomatous stage of the stomach was discussed.
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