Peritoneal absorption of pancreatic enzymes in dogs.

To elucidate peritoneal absorption of pancreatic enzymes, plasma levels of amylase, lipase, and trypsinogen were measured after the intraperitoneal injection of 10 ml human pancreatic juice in dogs. Plasma pancreatic amylase, lipase, and trypsinogen were determined using the immunoassay specific to the corresponding human pancreatic enzyme to exclude cross-reaction with the endogenous enzyme activities of the canine plasma. Plasma immunoreactivity of human amylase persistently rose during 24 h after the injection, whereas elevation of plasma amylase enzyme activity become significant only at 24 h. Increase of plasma lipase was not remarkable. Significant increase of the immunoreactivity was observed only at 24 h but there was no significant increase of the enzyme activity during this period. Plasma trypsinogen immunoreactivity peaked at 2 h remained significantly elevated during 24 h. The transperitoneal absorption of pancreatic enzymes in dogs was confirmed using intraperitoneal injection of human pancreatic juice combined with immunoassay specific to human pancreatic enzymes.