Activities of some metabolic enzymes in the small intestinal mucosa during pregnancy and lactation in the rat

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The food intake, gut wt, gut length, mucosal protein and mucosal activities of alkaline phosphate (EC 3.1.3.1), acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2), isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 3.1.3.9) were measured in rats during pregnancy, lactation and after the young were weaned. The quantities measured increased slightly during pregnancy and considerably during lactation, reaching maximum values during the 3rd wk of lactation and falling more or less rapidly after the young were weaned to the same levels as those in unmated animals. The gut length and mucosal protein remained higher even 3 wk after weaning, so that wt/unit length and specific enzyme activities (per mg protein) tended to be lower in mated than in unmated rats. Changes in enzyme specific activity indicate alterations of enterocyte metabolic function during breeding similar to changes reported for digestive enzymes. The intestine may reflect changes tht take place in the liver.