Globulins, plasma chemical binding

The a- and /8-globulins of the plasma also form an important group of binding proteins and a number of them have been isolated and found to have a high affinity, but relatively low capacity, for a variety of endogenous and chemically related synthetic compounds. Westphal (W7) has reviewed the extensive literature on the interaction of corticosteroids... 

T is most commonly measured in serum, and it is one of the hormones most commonly measured in serum, T circulates in plasma non-specifically hound to albumin, specifically bound to sex hormone binding globulin and unbound (free). Clinicians use serum T measurements to diagnose and monitor various disorders such as hypogonadism (androgen deficiency), testicular dysfunction, hirsutism, virilization, alopecia, prostate disease, adrenal hyperplasia and aging, in addition to anomalies caused by exposure to chemicals or hormone disrupters. 

Other special types of chemical analysis are useful in particular cases. Thus it has been recognized for some time that the small amount of iron which plasma is capable of transporting is associated largely with one of the globulin components. Determination of the iron binding capacities of certain fractions, therefore, has been found useful in determining the presence and amount of this particular component (see Part VI). 

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