Alkaline ribonuclease activity (pH 7.8) was markedly decreased in all the fractions of kidney homogenates from nephrotic rats compared to the fractions of kidney homogenates from control rats. In contrast to the active alkaline ribonuclease activity at pH 7.8, the latent alkaline ribonuclease activity at pH 7.8 was increased in fractions from homogenates of nephrotic kidney due to increased ribonuclease inhibitor activity. In liver from nephrotic rats, however, there was no decrease in pH 7.8 alkaline ribonuclease activity and no increase in alkaline ribonuclease inhibitor. Alkaline ribonuclease activity at pH 9.5 and acid ribonuclease activity (pH 5.8 and 4.8) were also decreased in fractions from homogenates of kidney from nephrotic rats but not to the same degree as pH 7.8 alkaline ribonuclease activity. In fractions from homogenates of spleen, only small changes in ribonuclease activity were noted in nephrotic rat preparations compared to control rat preparations.

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