Serum protein electrophoretic pattern in clinically healthy calves and cows determined by agarose gel electrophoresis

The aim of the present study was to determine the physiologic electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in clinically healthy calves and cows using agarose gel electrophoresis, and to describe the possible influence of age on the concentrations of serum protein fractions in young and adult cattle. Into the evaluation we included 14 clinically healthy calves of a Slovak spotted breed and its crossbreeds at the age of 4–6 months, and 13 clinically healthy cows of the same breed at the age of 3–5 years. Blood serum was analyzed for total serum protein concentrations, and for the absolute and relative values of serum protein fractions using agarose gel electrophoresis. In cows we found significantly higher total serum protein concentrations than in calves (P < 0.001). Serum protein electrophoresis identified in cows, as well as in calves, six fractions comprising albumin, α1 and α2, β1 and β2, and γ-globulins. The concentrations of serum protein fractions in cows were 34.8 g/l for albumin, 9.3 g/l for α1-globulins, 4.9 g/l for α2-globulins, 6.2 g/l for β1-globulins, 6.8 g/l for β2-globulins, and 21.1 g/l for γ-globulins. In calves we observed a marked shift in the concentrations of some protein fractions, with nonsignificantly higher concentrations of α1-globulins. On the other hand, the values of α2- and γ-globulins in young animals were significantly lower than those measured in adult ones (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Presented results suggest a more marked influence of age on the concentrations of several serum protein fractions in cattle. The relative concentrations of the most of protein fractions showed significant differences between young and adult cattle. Seeing that the analysis of serum proteins and their electrophoretic separation in cattle is less well documented, the study provides important findings for clinicians when evaluating dysproteinemias.