Abstract
Fatty acids (FA) are the preferred substrate of adult small intestine. We have measured enzymes controlling FA oxidation (palmityl-CoA synthetase and palmitylcarnitine transferase) and FA oxidation itself during development of the rat and bovine intestine. Cytochrome oxidase activity of calf intestinal homogenates was twice that of the fetus, indicating a postnatal increase in mitochondrial number. Oxidation of palmitic and capric acid by bovine intestine increased from 2 to lOnm/mg/hr by three weeks of age and decreased to less than lnm/mg/hr in the adult. Acetate oxidation by bovine intestine showed a similar developmental profile. Acetyl-CoA synthetase, palmityl-CoA synthetase and palmitylcarnitine transferase showed postnatal increases in activity. Developmental increases in FA oxidation were also observed with isolated rat intestinal mitochondria. Activity increased until 10 days of age, then declined until day 18, and again increased. Palmityl-CoA synthetase activity of rat intestinal mitochondria remained high throughout development whereas microsomal activity was low until day 18 when it increased markedly. Palmitylcarnitine transferase activity of rat intestinal mitochondria increased from 0.5 to 2.8 nm/mg/min by 10 days of age and then showed a decline to adult levels. These changes in FA oxidation may be important for functional maturation of the intestine and also reflect the importance of FA as substrates in the intestine.
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Warshaw, J., Kimura, R. DEVELOPMENT OF OXIDATIVE METABOLISM IN THE INTESTINE. Pediatr Res 8, 361 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00124
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00124