The purpose of the present study was to establish the effect of the
carcinogen 1,2 dimethylhydrazine on the activities of the jejunal
glucosidases and to assess the possible modifying effect of different diets. Two control groups of Wistar albino rats were used - fed standard pellet diet and fed the same diet +
1,2 dimethylhydrazine treatment. Six experimental groups treated with
1,2 dimethylhydrazine were provided. One of them was fed standard diet, containing 30% of wheaten bran and the other 5 groups received high-
lipid diets, containing 30% of different
fats. The rats were injected subcutaneously once a week for 12 weeks with 20 mg
1,2 dimethylhydrazine/kg b.m. and left for 12 weeks in order to develop a
tumor growth. The activities of 5
glucosidases (
lactase,
maltase,
sucrase,
palatinase and
cellobiase) were determined in homogenates from jejunal mucosa taken near by the
tumors and in homogenates from the
tumors themselves. An expressed decrease of the jejunal
glucosidase activities near the
tumors and in the
tumors was established. The animals fed 30% wheaten bran diet did not develop
tumorigenesis and showed comparatively slight decrease of the
enzyme activities. In general, the high-fat regimens did not exert such a preventive effect.