Origin of circulating serum immunoreactive trypsin in man

Serum trypsin concentrations within the portal venous system have been measured in man during transhepatic portal venography in an attempt to determine its source. In eight experiments, mean serum trypsin concentration at the splenic hilum was 180 +/- 25 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM). Trypsin concentration in the rest of the splenic vein was not significantly different. The mean concentrations in the portal vein (210 +/- 32 ng/ml) and within the superior mesenteric vein (233 +/-- 29 ng/ml) were, however, significantly higher than at the hilum (P less than 0.05). Following cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-PZ) and secretin stimulation, marked increases in serum trypsin concentration were seen within the portal vein (two patients) and deep within the superior mesenteric (two out of three patients). We conclude that circulating serum trypsin is derived, at least in part, from intestinal reabsorption.