Synthesis of serum glycoproteins in response to injury

¹ Department of Physiology Chemistry, Wayne State University College of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
² Department of Physiological Chemistry. Wayne State University College of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan

The transient elevations in rat serum globulins in response to injury were studied by precipitating the seromucoid fraction following the intraperitoneal injection of C¹⁴-labeled algal hydrolysate and C¹⁴-labeled glycine. Rats, injured by sponge implantation, showed a parallel increase in seromucoid protein and radioactivity. Partial hepatectomy, which reduced the response to stress, yielded a seromucoid fraction of high specific activity when the labeled amino acid was injected 2 hr prior to sacrifice. Chemical hepatic necrosis, produced by administration of carbon tetrachloride, reduced the level of the seromucoid fraction. Subsequent injury yielded a striking response both in the seromucoid protein and in the amount of seromucoid radioactivity. It is concluded that these data are consistent with an active synthesis of protein in response to injury.

Key Words: trauma • liver production of ₂- and ßbeta;-globulins • hepatic response • seromucoid protein fraction elevation • rat serum globulins

Submitted on May 10, 1963