Alterations in the activities of intestinal enzymes in vitamin-C-deficient guinea pigs.

Abstract

The effect of vitamin C deficiency on various enzymes of the intestinal epithelium has been studied in guinea pigs. Brush border sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities were considerably enhanced (p less than 0.001), but leucine aminopeptidase levels were reduced in scorbutic animals compared to the control group. There was essentially no change in the activity of maltase under these conditions. Kinetic studies with sucrase and alkaline phosphatase in control and scorbutic animals revealed that augmentation of the enzyme activities in scurvy is due to enhanced enzyme contents. Lactate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphatase and Mg+2 ATPase also exhibited reduced activities in the intestine of vitamin-C-deficient animals. Observed alterations in the activities of intestinal enzymes in scurvy were restored to control levels upon feeding of vitamin C to scorbutic guinea pigs.

• Authors: R M Dulloo, S Majumdar, R N Chakravarti, S K Mehta, A Mahmood
• Journal: Enzyme (Enzyme) Vol. 27 Issue 2 Pg. 75-80 ( 1982) ISSN: 0013-9432 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 6279390 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
• Succinate Dehydrogenase
• Alkaline Phosphatase
• Glucose-6-Phosphatase
• Sucrase
• Leucyl Aminopeptidase

Topics

• Alkaline Phosphatase (metabolism)
• Animals
• Glucose-6-Phosphatase (metabolism)
• Guinea Pigs
• Intestines (enzymology)
• L-Lactate Dehydrogenase (metabolism)
• Leucyl Aminopeptidase (metabolism)
• Male
• Microvilli (enzymology)
• Scurvy (enzymology)
• Succinate Dehydrogenase (metabolism)
• Sucrase (metabolism)