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Biomedical subjects

S Takase

Publications and source records attributed to S Takase.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Clinicopathological study of chronic hepatitis induced by alcohol with or without hepatitis G virus.

The concept of chronic hepatitis induced by alcohol (AL-CH) has not been widely accepted, because AL-CH may be due to non-A-E hepatitis virus in heavy drinkers. Recently, hepatitis G virus (HGV) was identified as a positive-strand RNA virus related to members of the Flaviviridae family. In this study, we determined serum HGV in patients with AL-CH and analyzed the clinicopathological changes after abstinence to evaluate whether AL-CH is caused by alcohol or not. Serum samples were obtained from 16 patients with AL-CH who had neither hepatitis B nor C virus. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically. In eight patients, liver biopsy was performed twice, within 3 days and 4 to 8 weeks after abstinence. The NS3 region of the HGV genome was detected using an reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method. Serum levels of AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase were measured once a week sequentially after admission. Serum HGV-RNA was detected in only one patient with AL-CH (6.3%). In all patients, including one patient with HGV, serum levels of AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase clearly decreased to normal levels after abstinence. Inflammatory activity in the periportal area of patients with actively drinking decreased or disappeared after abstinence for 4 to 8 weeks. These results suggest that HGV may not play an important role for development of AL-CH, and that AL-CH may be caused by alcohol itself, although a more larger number of patients with AL-CH are needed to obtain definitive conclusions.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Histochemical study of hyaluronate in alcoholic liver disease.

Recently, it has been reported that serum hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid; HA) concentrations increase in various liver diseases, especially in alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and serum HA concentration has been used as a marker for hepatic fibrosis. However, it is unknown whether hepatic HA contents in ALD increase by alcohol or not. In this study, we histochemically stained HA in liver biopsy specimens obtained from ALD patients while actively drinking and after abstinence to clarify the effects of alcohol on hepatic HA contents. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 13 patients with ALD and 10 patients with non-ALD. In ALD patients, liver biopsy was performed twice within 3 days, and 4 to 8 weeks after abstinence when serum levels of AST and ALT normalized. HA in biopsy specimens was stained histochemically with biotinylated HA binding protein. Staining intensity of HA in liver tissue was also determined by computer-assisted imaging analyzer. HA staining was clearly observed in sinusoidal wall and fibrous regions around the portal tract and central vein in liver diseases. HA staining intensities in patients actively drinking with ALD increased markedly, compared with those in patients with non-ALD, and these intensities decreased with abstinence. These results clearly suggest that hepatic HA contents in ALD may be increased by alcohol in addition to hepatic fibrosis, and, therefore, increased HA deposition in the liver may be reversible by abstinence of alcohol.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1999

Effects of a new orally active dopamine prodrug, docarpamine, on refractory ascites: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Refractory ascites is a debilitating condition in patients with cirrhosis. Recently, docarpamine, an orally active dopamine prodrug, was reported to increase renal blood flow, glomerular filtration, and sodium excretion. This suggests docarpamine may be useful for the treatment of refractory ascites. METHODS: In this study, we investigated docarpamine metabolism in cirrhotic patients and its effect on refractory ascites. RESULTS: Blood samples were obtained from seven cirrhotic patients and six healthy subjects after administration of 750 mg docarpamine, and plasma levels of free dopamine were measured. In healthy subjects, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time taken to reach Cmax (Tmax), elimination half-life (T(1/2)), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of plasma free dopamine were 76.8 +/- 24.1 ng/ml, 1.3 +/- 0.2 h, 0.8 +/- 0.1 h, and 97.5 +/- 21.1 ng x h/ml, respectively. In patients with cirrhosis, Cmax (53.1 +/- 24.9 ng/ml), T(1/2) (0.8 +/- 0.1 h), and AUC (100.6 +/- 45.6 ng x h/ml) were no different from healthy subjects when comparing each parameter, whereas Tmax (2.7 +/- 0.2) was significantly longer than that of healthy subjects. We treated 10 cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites with docarpamine or placebo and the same dose of diuretics used before hospitalization. After 8 wk of docarpamine treatment, ascites disappeared completely in three of the five patients and decreased in the remainder. However, in five patients treated with placebo, ascites was not changed or increased. Side effects were not observed in any case. CONCLUSIONS: Docarpamine was found to metabolize in cirrhotic patients as well as in normal subjects and may be an effective treatment for refractory ascites.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

Clinical and MRI study of brain stem and cerebellar involvement in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical and MRI features of brain stem and cerebellar lesions in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis. METHODS: A retrospective study of 66 consecutive Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis (42 women and 24 men) was done by reviewing the medical records and MRI films. Forty nine patients were diagnosed as having clinically definite multiple sclerosis and 17 patients as having clinically probable multiple sclerosis according to Poser's criteria. Prevalence rates of each brain stem and cerebellar manifestation and frequency and distribution of MRI lesions in these patients were studied. RESULTS: Forty three patients (65%) had one or more infratentorial manifestations. Cranial nerves were clinically involved in 28 patients (42%), and most of the lesions were identified by MRI. Among them, manifestations of facial, trigeminal, and abducens nerves were relatively common. Cerebellar ataxia was found in 20 patients (30%). The MRI study showed that the lesions responsible for ataxia in these patients were mainly found in the cerebellar peduncles, but cerebellar hemispheric lesions were detected in only four patients (6.4%). CONCLUSION: The low frequency (6.4%) of the cerebellar MRI lesions in these patients is in sharp contrast with the figures reported for white patients with multiple sclerosis (50%-90%). Racial and genetic differences may have an influence on the susceptibility of each part of the CNS to demyelination in multiple sclerosis.

Asian People↗
PubMed1999

Inflammation in chronic venous insufficiency. Is the problem insurmountable?

One of the hallmarks of venous insufficiency is an elevated venous pressure. While a number of mechanisms have been proposed for vascular and parenchymal cell damage following venous pressure elevation, such as white cell infiltration, a key question remains as to what degree venous occlusion and flow interruption per se may constitute a risk factor in venous disease. To gain an insight into this mechanism, we examined the effect of venous occlusion followed by reperfusion. A draining venule (circa 50 micrometer) in the rat mesentery was occluded with a micropipette (1 h) followed by reperfusion (1 h). The procedure serves to raise the microvascular pressure to about 31 mm Hg during the occlusion while the flow is completely stopped in the local venous and capillary network. Parenchymal cell death in the mesentery was monitored by propidium iodide (PI) labeling. The number of PI-positive cells significantly increased predominantly during reperfusion. A 1-week treatment with a micronized purified flavonoid fraction (100 mg/kg/day) served to significantly reduce parenchymal cell death as well as leukocyte rolling, adhesion to postcapillary venule, and migration into the tissue both during occlusion and reperfusion. The results indicate, that even in an initially symptomless tissue, flow reduction combined with microvascular pressure elevation during venous occlusion results in tissue damage not only during reperfusion (as in arterial occlusion) but also during occlusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Decrease in multiple sclerosis with acute transverse myelitis in Japan.

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) may be a manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS) and was reported to be more common among Japanese MS patients than in Caucasian MS patients. Recently there are arguments whether clinical manifestations of MS may have changed. Therefore, we studied the frequency of ATM in MS and the clinical subtypes of MS in 86 clinically definite MS patients whose onsets were in 1970-1979, 1980-1989, and 1990-1998 in Sendai City, Japan. Fifty-six of the patients were women and 30 were men. Forty-four patients had the conventional form of MS (C-MS) commonly seen in Western countries, and 42 had optic-spinal or spinal forms of MS (OSS-MS). Twenty MS patients had ATM, and all of them were belong to optic-spinal form of MS. ATM was not seen in any cases of C-MS. The mean onset age (years) of the clinical subtypes was 25.5 in C-MS, 34.1 in OSS-MS without ATM, and 30.9 in OSS-MS with ATM. Among the patients whose onset of the disease was in 1970-1979, 60.0% of them were cases of OSS-MS with ATM, but such cases were markedly decreased to 5.3% in 1990-1998. In contrast, the frequency of C-MS increased to 63.2% in 1990-1998 compared with 20.0% in 1970-1979. Analysis of the data by the year of birth of the patients showed similar results. Our data suggest that the frequency of ATM in MS markedly decreased, and that of C-MS increased during the last 30 years in Sendai, Japan. Since the genetic background of Japanese has not changed, some exogenous factors, such as food, infectious microorganisms, and chemicals in our environment, may be responsible for the change.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Developmental induction and villus-crypt distribution of retinol esterifying enzyme activities in chick duodenum.

Retinol absorbed and generated from dietary beta-carotene can be esterified by retinol esterifying enzyme(s) in intestinal absorptive cells. In this study, we observed the developmental changes and villus-crypt distribution of the activities of two retinol esterifying enzymes (lecithin-retinol acyltransferase (LRAT); and acyl-CoA-retinol acyltransferase (ARAT) in chick duodenum) to seek the possibility that these enzymes play distinct roles in retinol absorption and metabolism. Intestinal LRAT activity was barely expressed in embryonic stages until 2-3 d before hatching, when its activity becomes detectable; thereafter it abruptly increased to the maximal level at the third day of the posthatch period. In contrast, ARAT activity was present in the duodenum at the earliest stage examined, the 15th day of embryogenesis, and was elevated to the maximal level 3-4 d after hatching. An assay of LRAT and ARAT activities along the villus-crypt axis of the duodenum by a cryostat sectioning technique revealed that between the day of hatching and 1 d posthatch, an abrupt induction of LRAT activity occurred only in the villus region of the duodenum, where a coordinated induction of cellular retinol-binding protein, type II (CRBPII), was observed. In contrast, the rise in ARAT activity observed around the hatching period occurred at the broader portions of the villi including the area of villus-crypt junction. These observations in the developmental changes and distribution of LRAT and ARAT activities suggest that LRAT activity but not ARAT activity is closely related to the induction of CRBPII in the duodenum of developing chicks.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1999

[A case of limbic encephalitis associated with breast cancer developed in an HTLV-1 carrier].

We here present a case of 44-year-old woman, a carrier of human T-lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1), who suffered from limbic encephalitis and breast cancer. In December 1997, the patient's behavior became abnormal. Three weeks later, she became markedly forgetful. At that time neurological examinations revealed that she had anterograde and retrograde amnesia, disorientation, and confabulation, although her consciousness was clear. Anti-Hu and anti-Yo antibodies and antinuclear antibodies in the serum were negative. Flow cytometric study of the peripheral blood lymphocytes showed an increased percentage of CD3+CD25+ cells, although the percentages of CD4+CD45RA+ and CD4+CD45RO+ cells were normal. Lymphocytic responses to phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A were normal. Anti-HTLV-1 antibody was positive both in the serum and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The level of immunoglobulin G was high and two oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands were positive in the CSF. Cytological study of the CSF showed no atypical cells. Findings for herpes simplex virus type I and II DNAs were negative with polymerase chain reaction in the CSF. There was no elevation of antibody titers against viruses including herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and measles virus, either in the serum or the CSF. Magnetic resonance imaging showed signal abnormalities in the medial portions of both temporal lobes, in particular, in the bilateral hippocampus. Six weeks after the onset, a cancerous tumor in her right breast was detected and removed by open surgery. The pathological diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma with neuroendocrine features. After mastectomy, anterograde and retrograde amnesia and disorientation mildly improved. The follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed that signal abnormalities in the medial portions of both temporal lobes decreased and that the bilateral hippocampus became atrophic. We diagnosed the present case as paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis. There has been only one case report of limbic encephalitis associated with breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[A case of encephalomyeloneuritis and HTLV-I infection].

The patient, a 65-year-old woman, had liver cirrhosis, and had blood transfusion at the age of 49 and 56. Early in September, 1989, she gradually developed numbness of the legs, staggering gait, and apathy with hallucination. In October, she became incontinent and unable to stand, and was admitted to Konan Hospital. On admission, she was disoriented with poor comprehension. Cranial nerves were intact except for horizontal nystagmus on lateral gaze. She had generalized areflexia without pathological reflex. Muscular forces were fairly preserved. Superficial sensations were diminished in the upper limbs as well as below Th-7 level. Deep sensation was abolished in the distal parts of the extremities with athetotic finger postures on arm rising. She had urinary and fecal incontinence. Results of routine laboratory examinations were non-contributory. Chest CT scan and sputum cytology were normal. CSF contained one cell/microliter, 95 mg/dl of protein with positive oligoclonal IgG bands. Anti-HTLV-I antibody was positive in serum and CSF. Urodynamic studies showed neurogenic bladder of supranuclear type. MNCV was slightly decreased. SNAP and SEP were not evoked. On sural nerve biopsy, the density of myelinated fibers was 720/mm2, and that of unmyelinated fibers, 26,978/mm2. ABR and VEP were abnormal. EEG showed diffuse theta waves with paroxysmal delta and sharp waves. T2-weighted MR images of the brain showed patchy areas of high signal intensity in the cerebral white matter. Soon after administration of methylprednisolone, her consciousness became clear. EEG normalized in 4 months. Twenty months after the onset, she became ambulant with crutch, but still has dysuria and sensory deficits in the hands and lower limbs. The possible relationship between encephalomyeloneuritis and HTLV-I infection was discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[An autopsy case of motoneuron disease with dementia of long duration].

An autopsy case of MND with dementia, 67 years old, man, was reported. The behavioral disturbance appeared at 61 years old, and was followed by the upper limb weakness and respiratory failure. He had remained on a respirator for 56 months. The total duration of the disease was 74 months, which was far longer than mean duration of the cases previously reported, 25-30 months. The pathological findings were about essentially identical to those mentioned before, such as cortical alterations in temporal and frontal lobes, neuronal loss with gliosis in amygdaloid body and substantia nigra, and loss of lower motoneurons in anterior horn of spinal cord and in the several motor cranial nerve nuclei. There were several Bunina bodies in the remnant lower motoneurons, but no changes in the pyramidal tracts or loss of Betz cells in the precentral gyrus. Intracytoplasmic ubiquitin-immunopositive inclusions in the granule cells of hippocampal dentate gyrus were also encountered, but the number of which did not increased, compared to the preceding data. There may be frequently little correlation between the disease duration and the number of such inclusions. The regional alteration in the intermediate zone between subiculum and entorhinal cortex was revealed also at the level of the splenium of corpus callosum. It has been reported that such parahippocampal lesion may initiate at the anterior part of temporal lobe and become undiscernible at more posterior level than the lateral geniculate body. The formation of such parahippocampal lesion may be concerning with the length of disease duration. In addition, there were numerous senile plaques, diffuse or neuritic type only in the parietal lobe cortex without any other changes.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

No increase in cerebrospinal fluid tau protein levels in patients with vascular dementia.

Tau protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-tau) were determined in 29 patients with old cerebrovascular disease (CVD, 21 demented and eight non-demented), 69 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 17 age-matched normal controls. The CSF-tau level in the vascular dementia (VD) group (24.0 +/- 17.0 pg/ml) was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) than that in the AD group (90.0 +/- 45.3 pg/ml), but not significantly different from that in the non-demented patients with CVD (18.1 +/- 10.2 pg/ml) or controls (20.3 +/- 13.0 pg/ml). Among the VD patients, 1/21 exceeded a cut-off value (mean +/- 2 SD of controls), whereas 8/69 of the AD patients had CSF-tau levels below this value. These findings suggest that VD constitutes a group of dementias that can be separated from AD by normal CSF-tau levels. CSF-tau determinations in combination with other clinical findings may provide another diagnostic aid in the differential diagnosis between VD and AD.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Intestinal absorption of luteolin and luteolin 7-O-beta-glucoside in rats and humans.

In this study, we investigated the intestinal absorption of luteolin and luteolin 7-O-beta-glucoside in rats by HPLC. The absorption analysis using rat everted small intestine demonstrated that luteolin was converted to glucuronides during passing through the intestinal mucosa and that luteolin 7-O-beta-glucoside was absorbed after hydrolysis to luteolin. Free luteolin, its conjugates and methylated conjugates were present in rat plasma after dosing. This suggests that some luteolin can escape the intestinal conjugation and the hepatic sulfation/methylation. LC/MS analysis showed that the main conjugate which circulates in the blood was a monoglucuronide of the unchanged aglycone. Luteolin in propyleneglycol was absorbed more rapidly than that in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose. The plasma concentration of luteolin and its conjugates reached the highest level 15 min and 30 min after dosing with luteolin in propyleneglycol, respectively. HPLC analysis also allowed us to demonstrate the presence of free luteolin and its monoglucuronide in human serum after ingestion of luteolin.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Clinical and laboratory features of myelitis patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies.

Although perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) are associated with vasculitic neuropathy, their association with central nervous system (CNS) disorders has not been studied except for one report on optic-spinal type of multiple sclerosis associated with serum pANCA. We examined pANCA in sera from 98 patients with various CNS disorders, such as 58 MS, 17 myelitis, 12 HTLV-1 associated myelopathy, and 11 other CNS diseases using indirect immunofluorescence methods. The results showed serum pANCA to be positive in five patients with a peculiar type of myelitis, including two with MS and three with etiology unknown myelitis. All of these ANCA-positive patients were women and had acute or subacute myelopathy with various severities. MRI revealed segmental swelling of the spinal cord with T2 hyperintensity in the acute stage of the disease. Marked pleocytosis (227.8+/-101/mm3) and elevated protein level (128.8+/-52 mg/dl) in CSF were noted. Four of the patients had anti-nuclear antibodies and two had previous histories of symptoms suggesting autoimmune disorders. In a search for target antigens of pANCA, myeloperoxidase reactivity was found in the sera from two myelitis patients. Clinical and laboratory features of myelitis patients with pANCA in the present study are different from those of typical MS patients. Further study will be needed to delineate the role of pANCA in the pathogenesis of a specific type of myelitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Dietary carbohydrates enhance lactase/phlorizin hydrolase gene expression at a transcription level in rat jejunum.

We have previously shown that dietary sucrose stimulates the lactase/phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) mRNA accumulation along with a rise in lactase activity in rat jejunum [Goda, Yasutake, Suzuki, Takase and Koldovský (1995) Am. J. Physiol. 268, G1066-G1073]. To elucidate the mechanisms whereby dietary carbohydrates enhance the LPH mRNA expression, 7-week-old rats that had been fed a low-carbohydrate diet (5.5% of energy as starch) were given diets containing various monosaccharides or sucrose for 12h. Among carbohydrates examined, fructose, sucrose, galactose and glycerol elicited an increase in LPH mRNA accumulation along with a rise in lactase activity in the jejunum. By contrast, glucose and alpha-methylglucoside were unable to elicit a significant increase in LPH mRNA levels. To explore a transcriptional mechanism for the carbohydrate-induced increases in LPH mRNA levels, we employed two techniques currently available to estimate transcriptional rate, i.e. RNA protection assays of pre-mRNA using an intron probe, and nuclear run-on assays. Both assays revealed that fructose elicited an increase in transcription of the LPH gene, and that the transcription of LPH was influenced only slightly, if at all, by glucose intake. These results suggest that certain monosaccharides such as fructose or their metabolite(s) are capable of enhancing LPH mRNA levels in the small intestine, and that transcriptional control might play a major role in the carbohydrate-induced increase of LPH mRNA expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Peroxisome proliferator enhances gene expression of cellular retinol-binding protein, type II in Caco-2 cells.

Both the mRNA and protein of cellular retinol-binding protein, type two (CRBP(II)) are induced in rat intestine by high fat (corn oil) diet (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1200, 34-40, 1994) as well as by dietary unsaturated long-chain fatty acids (J. Nutr. 125, 2039-2044, 1995). To gain an insight into the mechanism for this induction, we investigated whether CRBP(II) gene was activated by exposure of the human intestinal cell line, Caco-2 to a peroxisome proliferator (clofibric acid) and/or 9-cis retinoic acid. Northern blot hybridization revealed that Caco-2 cells endogenously expressed the mRNAs of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha). The expression of the genes encoding CRBP(II), PPARalpha, and RXRalpha increased progressively during differentiation of Caco-2 cells. The cells exposed to 100 microM clofibric acid exhibited 70% greater CRBP(II) mRNA and the exposure of the cells to 100 microM clofibric acid in combination with 100 microM 9-cis retinoic acid exhibited 130% greater CRBP(II) mRNA level, indicating that the effect of the combination of them was additive. Neither PPARalpha mRNA nor RXRalpha mRNA level was enhanced by clofibric acid. In conclusion, our data suggested that the CRBP(II) gene expression may be enhanced by an activation of PPARalpha-RXRalpha heterodimer through some putative metabolite(s) formed via fatty acid-related metabolic pathway in the clofibrc acid-treated cells.

Alitretinoin↗
PubMed1998

Monocyte infiltration into venous valves.

PURPOSE: Greater saphenous veins removed at surgery for correction of venous dysfunction have few valves. Those that are present may be shrunken, deformed, or monocuspid. This study was carried out to determine whether leukocyte infiltration is associated with valve damage. METHODS: Seventeen specimens were removed at surgery from five men and eight women (age, 29 to 80 years). These consisted of the proximal 15 cm of the duplex-confirmed, refluxing proximal greater saphenous vein, one proximal lesser saphenous vein, and one midportion of greater saphenous vein. The severity of venous stasis in each patient limb was classified by the CEAP formula. Twelve were class 2, two were class 3, and three were class 4. Control specimens were obtained from patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. These were two men and two women, ages 72, 66, 62, and 60 years, free of venous insufficiency, with the specimens obtained from the proximal saphenous vein. Two of the control specimens contained venous valves corresponding to the test specimens. Longitudinal 10 microns paraffin sections were labeled with anti-CD64 monoclonal antibody, specific for tissue monocytes and macrophages, and studied by light microscopy. Five regions were chosen for quantification of the leukocyte infiltrate. Cells were categorized and counted directly. Volume proportions were calculated using stereologic techniques. RESULTS: Three of seven specimens studied for morphologic changes had clearly shortened valve leaflets. Collagen degeneration was noted in all seven specimens. Leaflets had essentially disappeared in three and were shortened to 100 to 2100 microns in five. Specific leukocyte staining was accomplished on 10 additional specimens. All specimens showed monocyte/macrophage infiltration in valve leaflets and venous wall. These were more numerous in the valve sinus and proximal wall both on and under the endothelium. Control specimens showed no monocyte/macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that venous valve damage in refluxing saphenous veins is associated with a leukocyte (monocyte/macrophage) infiltrate. Cell activation and fluid dynamic factors, such as eddies recirculation, and stasis in the valve sinus may be a part of the process of leukocyte penetration of the endothelium. The magnitude of leukocyte infiltration in the vein wall and in the base of the valve leaflet may be important in the genesis of primary venous dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effect of intermittent feeding on the development of disaccharidase activities in artificially reared rat pups.

We investigated the effect of an intermittent feeding schedule on the development of disaccharidase activities in the small intestine of artificially reared (AR) rat pups. Rat pups were fitted with an intragastric cannula at 5 days of age. A milk formula similar to the composition of rat milk was supplied by intermittent gastric infusion over the following 15-19 days. The body weight gain and plasma corticosterone levels of the AR pups matched those of pups reared naturally by dams (MR pups). At 10, 15 and 19 days of age, the small intestine from the ligament to Treitz to the ileocecal junction was divided into three segments of equal length and enzyme activities were measured in each. At the age of 10 and 15 days, sucrase and isomaltase activities were undetectable in AR pups fed according to a controlled schedule from the early postnatal period. These activities were first detected in the middle segment of the small intestine at 9 days of age in both AR and MR pups. Sucrase and isomaltase activities at the age of 19 days were diurnal in AR pups, but arrhythmic in MR pups. We conclude that artificial rearing via the intermittent gastric infusion of a milk formula containing only lactose as the carbohydrate source did not prematurely increase intestinal sucrase and isomaltase activities. Diurnal changes started from the beginning of development of these enzyme activities in AR pups.

Animals↗