The pharmacological action of pronase-digested egg albumin upon cerebral hypoxia

Abstract

The purification of a substance which protects mitochondrial activity against its decay in association with various cerebral pathologies, and the effect of this substance in vitro and in vivo have been mentioned. Defatted egg albumin was hydrolyzed with pronase, and diafiltrated through mesh, to obtain fractions of molecular weight less than 5,000. The diafiltrate was further fractionated using Sephadex G-25 column chromatography, and a fraction which had a protective action against the decay of mitochondrial DNP-ATPase activity was gathered. This digested egg albumin (DEA 5,000 S) showed no immunological reaction and seemingly penetrated well through the cell membrane. DEA 5,000 S prevented the decay of DNP-ATPase activity and swelling of brain mitochondria during aging in vitro. Also, the administration of DEA 5,000 S in vivo shortened the duration of unconsciousness and reduced EEG abnormalities in rats subjected to hypoxia in a special chamber filled with N2 gas. It is suggested that this Digested Egg Albumin has a marked action in restoring the function of metabolically impaired brain.