Does Liver-Intestine Significantly Degrade Circulating Endogenous Substance P in Man?

Elevated concentrations of circulating substance P in patients with liver insufficiency have been ascribed to decreased hepatic degradation. To establish a possible bio-degradation of the peptide in liver-intestine and kidneys, the concentration of endogenous immunoreactive substance P was determined in various vascular beds during a right-sided catheterization in 13 subjects without liver insufficiency. All subjects had normal values of circulating substance P, and no significant difference was found between systemic plasma and hepatic venous or renal venous concentrations of substance P. The results indicate that degradation of circulating endogenous substance P in man is not confined to liver-intestine or kidney but may take place in many tissues.