[Assessment of cholesterol esterase activity in the duodenal contents of man].

In 20 healthy patients the cholesterol esterase activity in duodenal content was examined. The cholesterol ether of o-coumaric acid was used as a substrate. Increase of the cholesterol esterase activity was noted after stimulation of pancreozymin and secretin. The cholesterol esterase concentration in duodenal content changes in more wide range than the index of the output. The cholesterol esterase output is the most significant informative index. There is not any cholesterol esterase activity in bile, gastric juice and saliva. The results obtained have shown that the main part of the estimated cholesterol esterase activity has a pancreatic base. The investigation of the cholesterol esterase activity in duodenal content may be used in the study of the exocrine function of pancreas.