Effect of Starvation on Small Intestinal Enzyme Activity in Germ-Free Rats

Abstract

Starvation overnight and starvation for 48 h reduced the weight and the protein content of mucosal scrapings, but only minimally reduced the DNA content of the mucosal scrapings. The activity of sucrase and maltase was reduced by both periods of starvation. The activity of lactase and of acid and alkaline phosphatase, however, was less subject to starvation. There were striking differences in the response to starvation between the proximal, mid and distal third of the small intestine. The importance of the proper reference system was discussed.

Stimulation of Disaccharidase Activities in the Jejunal Brush Border Membrane of Adult Rat by Total Parenteral Nutrition

“…For instance, it has been previously shown that food deprivation provokes atro phic changes in mucosal architecture accom panied by a reduction in both villus and crypt height [9,24], and a stimulation of lactase activity [10][11][12]. The present report shows that parenteral alimentation leads to a short ening of the villus height despite the mainte nance of the body weight and normal caloric intake.…”

“…tive enzymes [9][10][11][12][13]. Of peculiar interest is the finding that food deprivation leads to the specific increase of intestinal lactase activity [10][11][12][13] and that thyroxine injections prevent the stimulatory effect of starvation [13].…”

“…Of peculiar interest is the finding that food deprivation leads to the specific increase of intestinal lactase activity [10][11][12][13] and that thyroxine injections prevent the stimulatory effect of starvation [13]. Many of the effects caused by food depriva tion on intestinal function might be second ary to the lack of caloric intake.…”

Modifications of Brush Border Enzyme Activities during Starvation in the Jejunum and Ileum of Adult Rats

“…However, conflicting results have been obtained concerning the adapta tion of intestinal enzymes to starvation. For example, sucrase activity has been reported to decrease [2,8,9] or not to change [20,22,25]; lactase activity has been shown to be increased [16,20] or only weakly modified [9] and aminopeptidase activity has been re ported to decrease [14] or not to change [15] (enzyme activity per intestinal length) and the specific activity (enzyme activity per mil ligram of protein).…”

Lactase Deficiency and Lactose Malabsorption

“…Lactase activity in rats may vary with lac tose intake [11,12] but there is no convincing evidence for this in man [13][14][15][16].…”