Influence of the Indigenous Gastrointestinal Microbial Flora on Duodenal Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Mice

Abstract

Alkaline phosphatase activity was assayed by two procedures in duodenal homogenates from specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice of various ages, adult germfree mice, adult ex-germ-free mice colonized with an indigenous microflora from the SPF mice, and adult ex-germ-free mice monocontaminated with a Lactobacillus sp. indigenous to the SPF mice. In the SPF neonates, the activity remained at low levels until at least 12 days of age, increased to high levels at 20 days of age, and then fell to adult levels between the early neonatal and later high levels. In the germ-free mice, the activity levels were significantly higher than the levels in SPF mice at any age. In contrast, in the ex-germ-free animals, colonized by an entire indigenous microflora, the values fell within the range for adult SPF animals. In the ex-germ-free mice colonized only by the Lactobacillus sp., the activity levels were intermediate between the values for germ-free and SPF mice. These findings show that the indigenous microbial flora influences considerably the intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity in the mouse.

Cytochemical analysis of alkaline phosphatase and esterase activities and of lectin‐binding and anionic sites in rat and mouse Peyer's patch M cells

“…M-cell surfaces are enhanced sites of attachment and intestinal barrier penetration by bacteria, bacterial toxins, and virus particles (Owen and Nemanic, 1978;Shaklamov et al, 1981;Wolf et al, 1981). It has been reported that introduction of bacteria to germ-free mice (Yolton et al, 1971) and rats (Kawai, 1979) reduces intestinal alkaline phosphatase concentration, although others have found no reduction in enzyme activity beyond that consistent with shortening of villi associated with reduced enterocyte life span in conventional animals colonized by bacteria (DeBoth et al, 1974).…”

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase: multiple biological roles in maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and modulation by diet

“…Conventional chicks, as zebrafish, tend to display a higher intestinal AP activity than germ‐free chicks 61 . However, AP activity was not found to vary significantly in pigs, 17 while it decreased along with bacterial colonization in mice and rats 62–69 . Therefore, AP activity in the intestine may be modulated by the microbiota differently depending on the animal species.…”

Kinetics of Changes Induced by Indigenous Microbiota in the Activity Levels of Alkaline Phosphatase and Disaccharidases in Small Intestinal Enterocytes in Mice

“…Indigenous microorganisms also influence the digestive and absorptive activities of the small bowel. The activity of alkaline phosphatase is severalfold higher in the duodenal epithelium of germfree mice (29) and rats (11) than in conventional animals. Alkaline phosphatase may play several roles in the digestive process such as absorption of cholesterol and lipids (19), vitamin D and calcium (18), and amino acids and glucose (12).…”

“…Efforts have been made to establish models for studying the mechanisms by which the microflora exerts its influence on alkaline phosphatase activity of the intestinal epithelium (11,(27)(28)(29). In one such model, in which germfree mice were monoassociated with indigenous lactobacilli, the enzymatic activities varied depending on the source of the lactobacilli and the strain of mice (28).…”

“…In one such model, in which germfree mice were monoassociated with indigenous lactobacilli, the enzymatic activities varied depending on the source of the lactobacilli and the strain of mice (28). In some experiments the lactobacilli depressed the level of alkaline phosphatase activity to a level intermediate between the high levels in germfree animals and the lower levels in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice (28,29). In other experiments the lactobacilli did not change the levels of alkaline phosphatase in monoassociated animals, and in one case even stimulated the level slightly (28).…”