Specificity of the H-3-triolein assay for pancreatic lipase in blood plasma

The aim of this study was to investigate the specificity of the H-3-triolein assay and to investigate the recovery of highly purified pancreatic lipase and pancreatic lipase in the form of pure non-activated pig pancreatic juice. Blood plasma from pigs was analysed for pancreatic lipase activity using the H-3-triolein substrate assay, with a method specific for lipoprotein lipase and with a method specific for hepatic lipase. The recovery of pancreatic lipase from pancreatic juice was approximately 100%, while the recovery of highly purified pancreatic lipase in plasma or whole blood was found to be approximately 1%. Preparations of highly concentrated, purified lipoprotein lipase showed activity in the H-3-triolein assay designed for pancreatic lipase, but the activity did not exceed 1% of the activity of this enzyme measured in an assay specific for lipoprotein lipase (samples containing physiological levels of lipoprotein lipase did not show any activity in the assay). Hepatic lipase was not measurable under the conditions of the H-3-triolein assay. In conclusion, the H-3-triolein assay showed pronounced specificity for pancreatic lipase compared with lipoprotein lipase or hepatic lipase