The influence of pH on proteases activity from intestine, pancreas and stomach extracts
is shown in Fig. 1. Relatively higher activities were detected in acidic (pH 2–3) and
alkaline (pH 10) conditions for both intestine and pancreas, indicating the presence of both
acidic and alkaline proteases in these tissues. As for stomach extract, high proteolytic
activities occurred only in lower pH conditions (pH 1–2).
Pepsin-like enzymatic assays showed significant higher activities in stomach
(52.53F5.96 U) as compared to pancreas (12.86F4.53 U) tissue (Fig. 2). Trypsin and
chymotrypsin assays also showed the presence of both these enzymes in the pancreatic and
intestinal segments (Fig. 3). Both assays showed significantly higher activities in pancreas
as compared to intestine. Carboxypeptidase A and B assays revealed significantly higher
activities for both these enzymes in intestinal segment as compared to pancreatic segment.
Leucine aminopeptidase activities were detected in pancreas, intestine and stomach
tissues. However, there was no significant difference among these activities.