Sites of plasma albumin catabolism in the rat

Abstract

The effects of splenectomy, partial and complete gastrectomy, partial and subtotal hepatectomy, and evisceration on the catabolism of I 131 -labeled screened and unscreened plasma albumin in rats was studied. Splenectomy and removal of jejunum and ileum had no effect, but complete enterectomy, hepatectomy, and evisceration depressed plasma albumin breakdown as compared to sham-operated controls. Plasma albumin breakdown was found to proceed at an appreciable rate in eviscerated rats, and it appears that up to half of albumin breakdown in the rat occurs in nonvisceral sites. In perfused rat liver unscreened iodoalbumin is rapidly degraded, but the breakdown of screened albumin is low, accounting for about 15% of total plasma albumin catabolism in vivo.