Coloration au nitrate d'argent des proteines du liquide cephalo-rachidien non concentre

The authors present a new technique for the analysis of the cerebro spinal fluid (C.S.F.) proteins: silver stain after isoelectric focusing with possibility of immunofixation. This technique is simple and results are obtained after six hours only after sample deposition. If immunofixation is used a further 24 hours washing is necessary. It is highly sensitive and bands containing 25 ng of proteins can be clearly distinguished so that small volumes (10 microl. at mean) of unconcentrated C.S.F. can be used. With this technique abnormal distinct bands of IgG specificity are seen in the majority of central and peripheral nervous system inflammatory disorders. No distribution of these bands, particularly in the more cathodal zone, seems to be specific of any disease including multiple sclerosis (M.S.). The abnormal IgG bands in M.S.C.S.F. seem to have their counterpart in the serum. These results need further verification. The usefulness of this technique for research purposes is stressed. The protein pattern obtained must be interpreted in the light of the concepts of genetic polymorphism, microheterogeneity and heterogeneous mode of antibody production.