Radioimmunoassay of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK), duodenal release of CCK, diurnal variation of plasma CCK, and immunoreactive plasma CCK components in man.

A precise and specific radioimmunoassay method for measuring plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) is described. The present assay system using a stable tracer iodinated by means of a modified Chloramine-T method followed by purification on a Sephadex G-15 and a SP Sephadex C-25 column, as well as careful corrections for non-specific plasma effects, allows measurements of fasting plasma CCK in the low pmol/l range; the significant rise in plasma CCK following duodenal infusion of fat; and the significant diurnal variation of plasma CCK. Apparent immunoreactive meal-stimulated plasma CCK was eluted from a Sephadex G-50 superfine column in four fractions. The first and largest peak probably represents plasma CCK bound to plasma proteins and non-specific plasma effects, the second and smaller peak big CCK with molecular weight between some 5,000 and some 30,000, the shoulders following the second peak ordinary CCK33 and CCK39 variant, and the final, and by far the smallest peak, may possibly represent COOH-terminal tetra- (CCK4) or octapeptides (CCK8) of CCK.