QUANTITATION OF HYALURONIDASES BY THE MORGAN-ELSON REACTION - COMPARISON OF THE ENZYME-ACTIVITIES IN THE PLASMA OF TUMOR PATIENTS AND HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

The Morgan-Elson reaction, a method for the determination of hyaluroni dase activity, was optimized for the quantitation of the enzyme in bio logical material. Based on HPLC and spectrometric (UV-Vis, LC-MS) stud ies, the structure of the red-colored product (mesomeric forms of N-3- protonated nophenyl)methylidene-5-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)furane) formed b y condensation of chromogen III with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde is pr oposed. Activities corresponding to greater than or equal to 0.1 IU of endogenous and therapeutically administered hyaluronidase can be dete cted in 50 mu l samples. Application of the method for the determinati on of the enzyme in plasma of tumor patients revealed no difference in activity levels, interindividual variability and pH profile compared to healthy volunteers. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All righ ts reserved.