1987 Volume 35 Issue 4 Pages 1515-1522
Antiserum to the rat pepsinogen (PG) purified by us was raised in the rabbit. We established a radioimmunoassay system for PG and measured the content of it in the digestive and urinary organs. Immunoreactive PG in serum was confirmed to be PG by high-performance liquid chromatography using an ion exchange column. Serum PG levels in pregnant or lactating rats were higher than normal. The maximum level during lactation was 6 or 7 times the normal value, and began to decrease from about the 16th day after delivery. Serum PG in infant rats was elevated along with the content of mucosal PG. In the measurement of serum PG levels in experimental peptic ulcer rats, no significant change was observed in Shay and cysteamine ulcers produced in the forestomach or/and the duodenum. However, serum PG levels rose significantly in rats with indomethacin, stress and ethanol ulcers, which represent injuries on the glandular portion.
