The activity and properties of adenosine triphosphatase in various swine organs (liver, cerebral and kidney cortex, small intestinal mucosa)]

Studies into the activity of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in homogenates of liver, cerebral cortex, renal cortex, and mucosa of small intestine of swine have shown differentiated activity patterns, with peak activity developing in the liver. This has been related to a particularly high metabolism performance of the liver in fattening pigs. No difference was found to exist between magnesium activation of ATPase of swine tissue homogenates and that in tissue obtained from ruminants. ATPase which could be activated by sodium and potassium ions and inhibited by ouabain was detectable from cerebral and renal cortex. Sodium and potassium ATPases accounts from some 25 per cent of the total activity. ATPase that could be stimulated by calcium ions was recorded only from liver homogenate. The optimum pH values of ATPase were between 7.5 and 8 in the liver, 9 in mucosa of small intestine, and 9.5 in cerebral and renal cortex.