title: Alpha-amylase in the serum and tissues of rabbits and the effect of vitamin C on its activity.
abstract: The activity of total alpha-amylase was determined by Caraway's method in the serum and organs of 25 rabbits after administration of physiological salt solution or of vitamin C. The activity in the serum was 4658 U/l, 80% of which was constituted by thermolabile amylase. Among the tissues studied, the highest activity of this enzyme was found in the parotid and pancreas -375.6 U/g and 294.8 U/g respectively. The activity was six times lower in the wall of small intestine, and ten times lower in the liver. The activity of alpha-amylase in the rabbit serum was found to be higher than that in man and it varied under the influence of vitamin C in relation to the dose and administration time. The diurnal oscillations of alpha-amylase activity in serum indicate that the determination of the activity of this enzyme for research or diagnostic purposes should be performed at the same time of day.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003655:Decerebrate State; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D011817:Rabbits; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000516:alpha-Amylases; D001205:Ascorbic Acid