Amylase and esterase in rat intestinal lymph.

Alkaline phosphatase, which occurs in very high concentration in the mtestinal mucosa (1) and is excreted (2) in the intestine in large quantities during digestion, has been found also in increased concentration in the plasma (3) and especially in the intestinal lymph (4) of the rat after it has been fed a meal containing fat. This increase in the alkaline phosphatase activity of intestinal lymph is greatly diminished or abolished if the bile is excluded from the intestine (5). To determine whether other enzymes involved in the digestion of food are transported in increased amount in the intestinal lymph after feeding, we have made a study of the amylase and lipase activity of this lymph before and after feeding. The fluctuations found in the concentration of these enzymes at various times do not appear to be correlated with the time of feeding. A definite increase in the aliesterase which hydrolyzes tributyrin was found after the feeding of a meal containing fat.