Electrophoretic Fractionation of B 12 -Binders in Gastric Juice from Patients with Pernicious Anemia and from Controls. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Radiovitamin B₁₂ was added in vitro to human gastric juice. Paper electrophoresis was done with ultrafiltrated juice, and the strips autoradiographed. Two B₁₂-binders were found. The slower, anodically migrating B₁₂-binder was always present both in normal gastric juice and in gastric juice from patients with histamine-fast achlorhydria and normal Schilling test. It was invariably absent in pernicious anemia, where only the faster component was found. In some achlorhydria cases with normal Schilling test the slower migrating B₁₂-binder was identified following parasympathetic stimulation, but absent in fasting secretion or in that following histamine stimulation. The investigation supports the view that the slower migrating B₁₂-binder observed in electrophoresis of gastric juice is related to intrinsic factor. It is suggested that the method may be of diagnostic value.