An inflammatory reaction was induced in grass-cutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) by injecting turpentine. The changes in the plasma haptoglobin, fibrinogen, α2 macroglobulin and immunoglobulin G was followed for 23 days by immunonephelometry. The results were compared to rat and rabbit. The showed that (a) the inflammatory reaction is delayed in the grass-cutter compared to rats and rabbits; (b) the concentration of haptoglobin increases less than in rat and rabbit; (c) the fibrinogen concentration is very low in the grass-cutter, despite hypercoagulability of blood; (d) the changes in the plasma α2-macroglobulin in the grass-cutter seems to be comparable to that of rabbit α1 macroglobulin in amplitude and in its slow return to the initial concentration; and (e) fibrinogen and haptoglobin are suitable markers for grass-cutter inflammation monitoring.

alpha2-Macroglobulin level, trypsin protein esterase and progressive antithrombin activities were measured in normal and nephrotic sera and plasma. Trypsin protein esterase activity was proportional to the alpha2-macroglobulin concentration in serum and plasma from both normal and nephrotic patients. The results were different, however, with progressive antithrombin activity: in normal plasma, antithrombin III is the main thrombin inhibitor, then alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin, whereas in nephrotic syndrome patients, alpha2-macroglobulin is the main thrombin inhibitor.

α2-Macroglobulin level, trypsin protein esterase and progressive antithrombin activities were measured in normal and nephrotic sera and plasma.

A purification process of rabbit alpha 1 M and alpha 2 M from plasma was described: first the platelets, the fibrinogen, the plasminogen and the low-density lipoproteins were eliminated; then alpha 1 M and alpha 2 M were purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G 200 and by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. These purified materials were then isotopically labeled allowing the study of the proteins metabolism.