DOES MUCIN INHIBIT THE ACTION OF PEPSIN?

¹ The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford

1. The digestion of hæmoglobin by crystalline porcine pepsin was not inhibited by the viscous whole juice from a pig pyloric fistula, or by fractions thereof, at pH 1·6.

2. At higher pH levels there was a very slight reduction of activity.

3. Similarly, digestion was not inhibited by whole juice from a rabbit duodenal fistula or hydrolysed Wilson's mucin.

4. Possible causes of the apparent inhibition of peptic action by mucin reported by other workers are discussed.

Note:

My thanks are due to Professor Sir Howard Florey, F.R.S., for suggesting and encouraging this work and, with Dr. M. A. Jennings, for providing the samples of fistula juice. I gratefully acknowledge the invaluable technical assistance of Mr. J. Kent and Miss E. J. Page.