Blood and tissue distribution of gamma glutamyl transferase in calves

In five male and five female calves, we studied the tissue distribution of gamma-glutamyl transferase. The enzyme was mainly in kidney, pancreas, and liver; there was no sex-related difference. The relative hepatic and pancreatic specificity of the enzyme indicated that the measure of its activity in serum could be a test of hepatic or pancreatic damage in the calf. Serum activity measured within 159 samples of apparently healthy calves was 15.3 +/- 3.7 U/liter, not differing significantly from that of adult cow.