URINE PROTEIN-ANALYSIS WITH THE SODIUM-DO ULFATE-POLYACRYLAMIDE-GRADIENT-GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS (SDS-PAGE) IN HEALTHY CATS AND CATS WITH KIDNEY-DISEASES

In this investigation, the value of urine protein analysis by means of molecular-weight related sodium dodecyl-sulfat-polyacryl gradient gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was examined with regard to its applicabil ity and diagnostic significance in nephropathy in the cat. A total of 87 cats was included in the study, 30 of them that were clinically hea lthy sen ed as the control soup. The urine protein pattern of this gro up had, besides the band representing the marker albumin, an additiona l broad band within the size of the marker transferrin. In some cases, weak bands were present within the range of the Tamm-Horsfall-protein and immunoglobulin G. Micromolecular protein bands were nor. demonstr able. The remaining 57 animals had a histologically proven nephropathy . Thirty-eight cats had elevated urea and/or creatinine values in the plasma (group 1), and 19 animals had values within the reference range (group 2). The urine protein pattern as evidenced by SDS-urine electr ophoresis was altered in all cars with histologically proven nephropat hy, and it is thus concluded that with this technique a nephropathy ca n be diagnosed very early and prior to changes of plasma urea and crea tinine (group 2). Moreover, in most of the cases, the nephrological ch anges can be classified as glomerular or tubulo-interstitial (group 1 and group 2). However, it is not possible to draw exact conclusions co ncerning the underlying morphological changes, nor can the severity of the disease be correctly assessed.