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Biochemical and quantitative analysis of Tamm Horsfall protein in rats

Urological Research volume 25, pages 347–354 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

The involvement of Tamm Horsfall protein (THP) in nephrolithiasis is currently under investigation in several laboratories. Although rat is a commonly used species as an in vivo model for such studies, there is only limited information available about the biochemical properties and excretion profile of THP in normal rats. In order to characterize rat THP, we purified and analyzed normal male rat THP, and compared it with normal human male urinary THP by gel electrophoresis. Both THPs migrated at approximately 90 KDa, and stained similarly for protein (Coomassie blue) as well as carbohydrates (periodic acid Schiff reagent). Compositional analysis revealed that rat THP was largely similar to human THP in amino acid and carbohydrate contents but showed differences in the individual sugar components from other mammals. There was considerable variation in the day-to-day urinary excretion of THP in normal rats, with values ranging from 552.96 μg to 2865.60 μg and a mean value of 1679.54 μg per 24 h. It was concluded from this study that rat THP did not contain any unusual biochemical components and was primarily similar to human THP in composition and mean urinary concentration.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, JHMHC, University of Florida, Box 100275, 32610, Gainesville, Fl, USA

    Jayashree A. Gokhale, Patricia A. Glenton & Saeed R. Khan

Authors
  1. Jayashree A. Gokhale
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  2. Patricia A. Glenton
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  3. Saeed R. Khan
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Correspondence to Saeed R. Khan.

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Gokhale, J.A., Glenton, P.A. & Khan, S.R. Biochemical and quantitative analysis of Tamm Horsfall protein in rats. Urol. Res. 25, 347–354 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01294664

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01294664

Key words

  • Sprague-Dawley rats
  • Tamm Horsfall protein
  • Gel electrophoresis
  • Amino acids
  • Carbohydrates