Electrophoretic studies of human upper gastrointestinal mucosal acid proteinases.

The pattern of acid proteinase zymogens, seven pepsinogens (Pg) and slow moving protease (SMP), in normal human gastric mucosa has been reported. No significant differences were found in appearance of individual pepsinogens in oxyntic mucosa in the two sexes, but in pyloric mucosa, Pg 3 occurred significantly more often in men. Rapidly migrating pepsinogens (constituents of Group I pepsinogens) were seen in pyloric mucosa as well as in oxyntic mucosa. The duodenal mucosa contained small amounts of proteinases, the activity being largely confined to the slower moving proteinases (constituents of Group II pepsinogens).