Abstract
Intestinal polyamine concentrations and disaccharidase activities show a peak at the time of postnatal maturation in the rat. In the present study, we aimed at inducing maturation by oral administration of polyamincs. Three groups of 5 rats each received twice daily either saline, spermidine (5 μmol) or spermine (3 μmol) orally on the 12th, 13th and 14th postnatal days. Rats were sacrificed on day 15. Mucosal protein levels and disaccharidase activities were measured according to the methods of Bradford and Dahlqvist respectively.
Results:
a: not significant, b: p <0.05, c: p =0.01 (versus control rats)
Conclusion: In rats, orally administered polyamines induce precocious intestinal maturation. Sucrase and maltase activities reach adult levels on the 15th postnatal day. Lactase activities decrease. The changes do perfectly mimick the natural maturational process.
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Forget, P., Dufour, C., Dandrifosse, G. et al. 18. POLYAMINES INDUCE PRECOCIOUS INTESTINAL MATURATION IN THE RAT. Pediatr Res 22, 99 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00039
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00039