AMYLOPSIN. STEAPSIN. 501 



had a strong alkaline reaction even toward phenolphthalein, and con- 

 tained globulin and albumin but no proteoses and peptones. The specific 

 gravity was 1.0075 and the freezing-point depression was A =0.46- 

 0.49. The solids were 12.44-12.71 p. m., the total protein 1.28-1.74 

 p. m., and the mineral bodies 5.66-6.98 p. m. The secretion contained 

 trypsinogen, which was activated by the intestinal juice. Diastase and 

 lipase were present; inverting enzymes, on the contrary, were not. The 

 daily quantity of juice was 500-800 cc. The quantity of secretion, of 

 ferments, and of alkalinity was lowest in starvation, but soon rose with 

 the taking of food, and reached its maximum in about four hours. 



Amylopsin, or pancreatic diastase, which, according to KOKOWIN 

 and ZWEIFEL, is not found in new-born infants and does not appear 

 until more than one month after birth, seems, although not identical 

 with ptyalin, to be closely related to it. Amylopsin acts very energetic- 

 ally upon boiled starch, and according to KUHNE also upon unboiled 

 starch, especially at 37 to 40 C., and according to VERNON 1 best at 

 35 C. It forms, similarly to the action of saliva, besides dextrin, chiefly 

 isomaltose and maltose, with only very little glucose (MUSCULUS and 

 v. MERINO, KULZ and VoGEL 2 ). The glucose is probably formed by the 

 action of the invertin existing in the gland and juice. The pancreatic 

 juice of the dog in fact, contains, according to BIERRY and TERROINE, S 

 maltase, its action becomes apparent only after very faint acidification 

 of the juice. According to RACHFORD the action of the amylopsin is 

 not reduced by very small quantities of hydrochloric acid, but is dimin- 

 ished by larger amounts. VERNON, GRUTZNER, and WACHSMANN find 

 that the action is indeed accelerated by very small quantities of hydro- 

 chloric acid, 0.045 p. m., while alkalies in very small amounts have a 

 retarding action. This retarding action of alkalies and hydrochloric 

 acid may be stopped by bile (RACHFORD). WOHLGEMUTH as well as 

 Minami 4 find that the action of diastase is increased to a high degree 

 by bile. The active constituent of the bile was soluble in water and 

 alcohol but was not identical with the bile salts or cholesterin. The 

 statements in regard to the action of lecithin are contradictory. 



Steapsin, or Fat-splitting Enzyme. The action of the pancreatic 

 juice on fats is twofold. First, the neutral fats are split into fatty acids 



1 Korowin, Maly's Jahresber., 3; Zweifel, footnote 2, p. 456, Kiihne, Lehrbuch, 

 117; Vernon, Journ. of Physiol., 27. 



2 See footnote 5, p. 456. 



3 See Tebb. Journ. of Physiol., 15; Bierry and Terroine, Compt. rend. soc. biolog., 

 58; Bierry, ibid., 62. 



4 Rachford, Amer. Journ. of Physiol., 2; Vernon. 1. c.; Griitzner, Pfliiger's Arch. 

 91; Wohlgemuth, Bioch. Zeitschr. 21, 447 (1909); Minami, ibid., 39, 339 (1912). 



