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

Aminopeptidase, lactase and sucrase activities have been followed during 5 days in the jejunum and in the ileum of starved adult rats. Enzyme activities have been determined in the mucosal homogenates as well as in the purified brush border membranes and expressed as activities per intestinal length (segmental activities) or as activities per milligram of protein (specific activities). The segmental and specific activity of aminopeptidase was increased in the ileum during the first 2 days of starvation, suggesting that aminopeptidase may have during the first days of starvation a conservative role by preventing an important loss of tissue protein. In all conditions, lactase activity was strikingly enhanced by starvation whereas sucrase activity showed no changes or decreased activity. Lactase stimulation was initiated during the first 24 h of starvation reaching its maximum after 2 days. The various experimental conditions leading to a specific or to a nonspecific stimulation of intestinal lactase activity have been discussed.