AMYLASE OR DIASTASE 73 



in the lipase eontoiit of normal and pliosphoius-poisoned livers, but 

 in chloroform poisoning Quinan''' found a decrease in the butyrase 

 of the liver, although it was increased in the kidneys and muscles. 

 This question will be considered more fully in discussing fatty meta- 

 morphosis. 



An improved method of testing for lipase action has been devised 

 by Rona and ]\Iichaclis, by measuring the change in surface tension 

 caused by hydrolysis of a soluble ester, usually tributyrin. Using this, 

 Bauer'* found that every human serum contains fat-splitting enzymes, 

 which are greatly decreased in carcinoma and advanced phthisis, some- 

 what decreased in syphilis and exophthalmic goitre, and increased in 

 early pulmonary tuberculosis. Caro'^ found a decrease in all cases 

 of cachexia, but there was no relation between the lipolytic enzyme 

 and the blood picture. The blood contains no thermostable antilipase 

 analogous to the antitrypsin. Red corpuscles are said to contain an 

 enzyme sphtting cholesterol esters, "cholesterase."^^ In leucocytes a 

 "lipoidase" has been found by Fiessinger and Clogne" that splits 

 choline out of lecithin. 



Fat necrosis, resulting from the escape of pancreatic juice into the 

 peripancreatic tissues and abdominal cavitj^ undoubtedly is largely 

 the result of lipase action. (See "Fat Necrosis," Chapter xv, for 

 complete consideration.) 



Amylase or Diastase"" 



Although under ordinary conditions starch is not supposed to enter 

 the blood stream and tissues, yet all tissues and body fluids are capable 

 of hydrolyzing starch. Apparently the amylase is derived from the 

 pancreas and salivary glands, and possibly from many or all other 

 tissues (King), but it is not quantitatively related to the amount of 

 carbohydrate in the diet of a species or an individual (Carlson and 

 Luckhardt). In the blood it occurs in the albumin fraction.'* There 

 is disagreement in the literature as to the variations in amount of 

 amylase in the blood during disease, and little information concerning 

 its distribution in the tissues. Normally the kidneys and Uver seem 

 to be most active and Winslow says that all glycogen-containing 

 organs produce diastase. During acute infections the blood amylase is 

 increased, presumably coming from the leucocytes (King). It is 

 greatly increased when the pancreas is acutely inflamed or injured 



93 Jour. Med. Res., 1915 (32), 73. 



sMVien. klin. Woch., 1912 (25), 1376 (bibliography). 



" Zeit. klin. Med., 1913 (7S), 286. 



3«See Cvtronberg, Biochem. Zeit., 1912 (45), 281. 



9^ Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci., 1917 (165), 730. 



"" Literature given by Watanabe, Anier. Jour. Physiol., 1917 (45), 30; Geyelin, 

 Arch. Int. Med., 1914 (13), 96; Stocks, Quart. Jour. Med., 1916 (9), 216; McClure 

 and Pratt, Arch. Int. Med., 1917 (19), 568; Winslow, Hospitalstidende, 1918 (61) 

 832 



""sSatta, Arch. Sci. Mt'd., 1915 (.39), 46. 



