Role of the Liver in the Catabolism of Serum Haptoglobin.

Abstract

Summary

1. The fate of I¹²⁵-labelled human haptoglobin (Hp) and its hemoglobin complex (Hp-Hb) was studied in the isolated perfused rat liver as well as in intact animals. 2. No significant removal of either free or complexed Hp from the perfusate occurred during 4 hours of liver perfusion. 3. In intact animals, the T_½ of I¹²⁵ Hp-Hb was considerably shorter (2 hours) than that of free I¹²⁵ Hp (19 hours); in both groups, hepatic uptake per gram of tissue was less than splenic uptake, and was minimal. 4. It is concluded that the liver, the major site of Hp synthesis, is of limited importance in the degradation of this protein and of its hemoglobin complex.