What are the main serum proteins that are measured by electrophoresis?
In general, protein electrophoresis is not sensitive enough to allow visualization each of the hundreds of individual proteins that are found in serum. Instead, broad groups of proteins with similar size and electrical charge are measured. The major groups, or fractions, of proteins include alpha, beta, and gamma globulins. The one individual protein that is distinctly separated by electrophoresis is albumin. What do changes in these protein groups mean? Albumin comprises from 35% to 50% of the total serum protein concentration in dogs. Albumin has many functions, including the maintenance of normal fluid pressure within the blood vessels (this is termed colloidal osmotic pressure), and the transport of minerals, hormones, and fatty acids within the blood stream. The liver is the site of albumin production. Since over-production of albumin does not occur, only decreases in albumin concentration are of concern. A decreased amount of serum albumin may mean decreased liver production, or
