Observations on the Visceral Removal of Plasma Peptidase Activity1

Abstract

The rate at which leucylglycylglycine or glycylglycylglycine is hydrolyzed by plasma (peptidase activity) was studied. From observations in bilaterally nephrectomized rats, it is concluded that the kidney does not remove appreciable quantities of peptidase activity from the plasma. Peptidase activity is removed from the plasma during its passage through the splanchnic area of patients in whom plasma enzyme levels were elevated. The significant positive correlation obtained between plasma level and splanchnic uptake of enzymic activity suggests that the liver is intimately involved in the homeostatic control of these plasma constituents.