Abstract
Summary and Conclusions
Serum globulin participated relatively more in the changes of serum protein content, causing at first a decrease and then an increase of the albumin/globulin ratio before the final return to initial values. Cholesterol esters decreased absolutely and relatively more than the free cholesterol fraction. Serum phosphatase activity rose promptly, continued to rise for 3 days and was still above the initial levels a month after the injection of gum acacia; we consider this a manifestation of the reaction of the liver to injury. In absence of criteria which would enable us to identify in the serum the “alkaline” phosphatases of various origins, we regard the rise of serum phosphatase in liver involvements—particularly when there is no evidence of obstruction of the biliary passages— as an indication that the liver is a source of serum phosphatase. We assume that the “alkaline” phosphatase in the serum represents the sum total of contributions from various organs and tissues capable of producing “alkaline” phosphatase, the contribution of each being increased by an injury to which it is able to react.
This study, including histological investigations, is being continued.
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