DISAPPEARANCE OF UROPEPSIN FROM THE URINE OF GASTRECTOMIZED CATS

Abstract

The urine of 3 cats which survived complete gastrectomy 2-20 wks. was assayed both pre- and post-oper-atively for uropepsin using a Hb substrate. (Gastroenler-ology 8(5): 627. 1947). The uropepsin output fell rapidly to zero in the 2d to 3d post-operative voiding. In one cat, which ate well and regained the pre-operative wt., there was no reappearance of uropepsin in 20 wks. These findings indicate, in confirmation of the older literature, that the gastric mucosa is the source of the enzyme uropepsin. Gastrectomy in the cat may result in a severe anemia which was neither of the hypochromic nor microcytic type.