Distribution of the 10,000 molecular weight calcium binding protein along the small and large intestine of man.

The distribution of the 10,000 molecular weight calcium binding protein along the human small and large intestine was studied using an enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay. Small intestinal mucosal samples were obtained from the duodenal bulb, the second and third part of the duodenum and at about 50 cm intervals from jejunum and ileum of five whole small intestines of necro-kidney donors. Mucosal samples of caecum, colon ascendens, and transversum were also investigated. The amount of calcium binding protein per milligram of cytosolic protein increased throughout duodenum to reach the maximum in the proximal segment of jejunum and then declined steadily to nearly undetectable levels in ileum. In the colon no 10,000 molecular weight CaBP was detectable. The distribution of CaBP along the small and large intestine of man is thus parallel to the efficiency of the active calcium absorption of human intestine.