Alterations in Intestinal Function in Response to Thyroxine and Cortisone Administration in Undernourished Rats

Abstract

Imposition of undernutrition during the suckling period considerably enhanced the intestinal uptake of D-glucose and glycine compared to a control group. Brush border sucrase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were drastically reduced while lactase and leucine amino peptidase levels were significantly elevated at weaning in nutritionally deprived pups as compared to control animals. Cortisone administration to undernourished rats depressed the uptake of D-glucose but stimulated that of glycine. Thyroxine treatment to undernourished animals reduced the uptake of glucose but had no effect on glycine absorption. Brush border sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities were stimulated in cortisone- or thyroxine-injected undernourished rats but lactase activity was depressed under these conditions. Leucine aminopeptidase activity remained unaffected in cortisone- or thyroxine-administered undernourished pups.

Effect of Malnutrition and Hormone Treatments on Intestinal Microvillus Membrane Glycosylation in Suckling Rats

“…In conclusion, the present findings sup port the contention [5,6] that UN imposed during the suckling period delays the maturational development of intestine, as evi denced by increased sialylation and de creased fucosylation processes, characteris tics of the immature tissue [2], Administra tion of cortisone and insulin induced adulttype changes in glycosylation of MVM in nutritionally deprived pups. This further corroborates the contention that the sialyla tion and fucosylation of MVM are in fluenced by hormone treatments in suckling pups [4.…”

“…Thus the observed decrease in sucrase to gether with an enhanced lactase level in UN intestine suggests delayed maturation of in testinal tissue in nutritionally deprived ani mals [5,6]. The chemical analysis as well as the lectin binding data indicated that impo sition of UN during suckling period stimu lates sialylation and reduces fucosylation of microvillus surface in intestine.…”

“…Adult-type changes in sialylation and fucosylation of MVM in response to corti sone treatment in suckling rats have also been described [4], Pathak et al [5,6] showed that imposi tion of undernutrition (UN) during the early suckling period affects the structural and functional activities of enterocytes as a con sequence of the 'delayed maturation' phe nomenon. Administration of cortisone and thyroxine to nutritionally deprived animals is also reported to induce marked alterations in enzyme and transport characteristics of intestinal epithelium [6]. However, it is not known whether the imposition of nutritional deficiency during suckling period affects the MVM glycosylation in intestine.…”

“…The microvillus surface is rich in sialic acid and has low amounts of fucose in the perinatal period but the molar ratio between these sugars is reversed in weaned animals [1][2][3]. Adult-type changes in sialylation and fucosylation of MVM in response to corti sone treatment in suckling rats have also been described [4], Pathak et al [5,6] showed that imposi tion of undernutrition (UN) during the early suckling period affects the structural and functional activities of enterocytes as a con sequence of the 'delayed maturation' phe nomenon. Administration of cortisone and thyroxine to nutritionally deprived animals is also reported to induce marked alterations in enzyme and transport characteristics of intestinal epithelium [6].…”

Development and response to a diet change of some digestive enzymes in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae

“…yGT, in addition to its hydrolytic function, is involved in peptide transport (Tate and Meister 1974;Griffith and Meister 1980). AP activity is induced by all the phosphorylated substrates, phospholipids and phosphoproteins (Shirazi et al 1978;McCarthy et al 1980) and is a sensitive indicator of malnutrition status (Kumar and Chase 1971;Pathak et al 1982). Poorest growth was observed in the MP group and, yet, this group had higher specific activity for the three intestinal enzymes assayed in whole body homogenates.…”