Catabolism of γ-globulin by the isolated perfused rat liver

Abstract

The catabolism of [gamma]-globulin prepared by chromatography, labelled with I131 and screened for 48 hours in a living animal was investigated in the isolated perfused rat liver. In 10 perfusions the mean catabolic rate of [gamma]-globulin (0. 44% of the intravascular [gamma]-globulin pool of the liver donor/hour) was equivalent to about 30% of the total [gamma]-globulin breakdown in vivo. In 2 perfusions in which I125 -labelled y-globulin and I131-labelled albumin were studied simultaneously, the rate of entry of [gamma]-globulin into the liver was slower and its breakdown rate (% of intravascular pool) more rapid than that of albumin, since the ratio of albumin to [gamma]-globulin was lower in the liver (1.31) than in the circulation (3:1);breakdown rates were similar when expressed as fractions of the liver pools. Protein released into the perfusing blood (mean = 160 mg. of protein/ 4[long dash]5 hour) consisted in part of solubilized liver protein; this suggests that some hepatocellular damage occurred during the course of per-fusion.