Activity of α-Amylase and α-1,4-Glucosidase in Human Liver Tissue

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Abstract
Activity of α-amylase and α-1,4-glucosidase was determined in human liver tissue obtained from operative biopsies in patients operated on for uncomplicated gallstone disease or peptic ulcer. No or only traces of α-amylase activity were found. The absence of α-amylase activity in normal liver tissue indicates that the increased serum activity occasionally found in cases with liver or bile duct disease probably originates from other sites. High activity of α-1,4-glucosidase with an acid pH-optimum but no activity at neutral pH was found. The acid activity had characteristics similar to those reported for the corresponding activity in liver tissue from other species. It is concluded that human liver tissue probably does not contain α-amylase activity but yields high activity of an acid α-1,4-glucosidase of probable lysosomal origin.