II Disc Electrophoretic Studies of Human Perilymph

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Abstract
Comparison of the human serum, CSF [cerebrospinal fluid] and perilymph disc electrophoretic patterns showed that pre-albumin, albumin, transferrin and haptoglobin bands were present in each. The large.-molecular substances like group specific proteins, gamma-globulins and [beta]1-lipo-proteins, were much weaker in the perilymph than in either serum or CSF. Perilymph contained 2 weak bands in the pre-albumin region which appeared in neither serum nor CSF but one of which had the same mobility as one of the pre-albumin bands found in brain tissue. Hemoglobin bands of varying strength were seen in all perilymph samples, whether live or cadaver specimens were used. By using a micro immunodiffusion method the following serum components were invariably found in all perilymph samples pre-albumin, albumin, [alpha]2 -macroglobulin, transferrin and gamma-globulin; most samples contained also [beta]2A and [beta]2M-globulin but only a few [beta]1 -lipoprotein. No precipitation reaction was obtained with antifibrinogen. Except the 2 bands in the pre-albumin region, all other protein bands might seep through the capillary walls or cochlear aqueduct into the perilymph. Enzyme analysis, however, shows the perilymph to be an independent fluid, since the LDH [lactic dehydrogenase] activity, particularly of its isoenzyme 4, was much stronger than in serum or CSF. Similarly, the presence of only one unspecific esterase of high molecular weight in the perilymph, and the absence of faster migrating esterase isoenzymes, argues strongly against simple filtration from the neighboring fluids. Apparently both the capillary walls and the fluid under nerve sheaths, together with the CSF system function as sources of perilymph, the normal formation of which, however, is at least in some respects governed by principles other than simple filtration.