Screening of preduodenal lipases in several mammals.

The tissular localization of preduodenal lipases was studied from the tongue to the pyloric portion of the stomach in 11 mammals. Lipolytic activities were clearly differentiated from those of pancreas. All lipase activities show an acidic pH optimum, except the gastric enzyme from hog. For every mammal tested, preduodenal lipase activity was associated mainly with only a single tissue located either in tongue, or in the pharyngeal area, or in the stomach. Resistance to acidic pH medium allows the classification of lipase activities into three groups. These results are related to the dietary habits and zoologic classification of the different animal species.