Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “AMYLASE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Amylase secretion in the rabbit parotid gland when stimulating the sympathetic nerves during parasympathetic activity.

1. In anaesthetized rabbits amylase secretion from the parotid gland was investigated. Secretion was evoked by sympathetic nerve stimulation, either alone or superimposed on a parasympathetic background secretion, imitating the resting secretion present in the waking animal.2. Sympathetic nerve stimulation at frequencies below 1 Hz was alone subthreshold for fluid secretion, but could greatly increase the amounts of amylase present in fluid secretion produced by parasympathetic nerve stimulation. The amylase output due to sympathetic nerve stimulation alone at 10 Hz did not exceed that seen in response to a stimulation at 1 Hz superimposed on parasympathetic activity.3. The amylase output in response to superimposed sympathetic stimulation was not influenced by the rate of fluid secretion, which was altered by stimulating the parasympathetic nerves at different frequencies.4. Sympathetically-evoked amylase secretion was abolished after beta(1)-block. The amylase secretion remaining on parasympathetic activation was sparse.5. It is concluded that secretion of amylase in response to sympathetic nerve stimulation requires the presence of a parasympathetic fluid secretion to be washed along the glandular ducts. Parasympathetic activity may also augment the sympathetic effect on amylase secretion.

Amylases↗

Suppression of secretagogue-induced amylase secretion in pancreatic acini of cold-exposed rats.

1. The influence of prolonged exposure to a low ambient temperature on the pancreatic exocrine function was investigated in rats. Amylase concentration in acini prepared from rats housed at 5 degrees C for 2 weeks was specifically and dramatically reduced. The enzyme activity relative to acinar DNA concentration was only 48% of that of control acini obtained from rats reared at the thermoneutral temperature of 25 degrees C. Amylase content relative to acinar protein concentration also decreased by 35%. In contrast, acinar trypsinogen content relative to protein concentration increased to 161% of that of control acini. No comparable change was found in the parotid glands. 2. In acini from cold-exposed rats, amylase release in response to cholecystokinin octapeptide or carbamylcholine was simultaneously reduced when expressed relative to acinar DNA or protein concentration and the dose-response curve shifted downward. However, when the secretory responsiveness of amylase was represented as a percentage of initial acinar enzyme content, the observed decrease disappeared and the dose-response curve was unaffected by cold exposure. 3. Secretagogue-stimulated trypsinogen release was augmented in acini from cold-exposed rats when expressed per acinar protein concentration. Conversely, its percentage release was slightly lowered but the release per acinar DNA concentration remained unaltered. 4. Pancreatic insulin concentration normalized to tissue wet weight or protein concentration was unaffected by prolonged cold exposure but the plasma insulin concentration significantly decreased by 45% as compared with that of thermoneutral rats. 5. Chronically administered exogenous insulin partially restored the decreased acinar amylase concentration in cold-exposed rats. The dose-response curve for amylase normalized by acinar DNA or protein content also tended to be shifted upward by insulin treatment. Acinar trypsinogen concentration in these rats was not significantly altered from that in cold-exposed, non-insulin-treated rats. Percentage release of each enzyme was decreased by exogenous insulin. 6. Cold-induced suppression of pancreatic acinar amylase concentration, resulting in a proportional decrease in secretory responsiveness, was confirmed at the cellular level. Insulin deficiency at a low ambient temperature is likely to be a major cause of cold-induced suppression of amylase biosynthesis and its release via an insulin-pancreatic acinar axis.

Amylases↗

Role of Streptococcus gordonii amylase-binding protein A in adhesion to hydroxyapatite, starch metabolism, and biofilm formation.

Interactions between bacteria and salivary components are thought to be important in the establishment and ecology of the oral microflora. alpha-Amylase, the predominant salivary enzyme in humans, binds to Streptococcus gordonii, a primary colonizer of the tooth. Previous studies have implicated this interaction in adhesion of the bacteria to salivary pellicles, catabolism of dietary starches, and biofilm formation. Amylase binding is mediated at least in part by the amylase-binding protein A (AbpA). To study the function of this protein, an erythromycin resistance determinant [erm(AM)] was inserted within the abpA gene of S. gordonii strains Challis and FAS4 by allelic exchange, resulting in abpA mutant strains Challis-E1 and FAS4-E1. Comparison of the wild-type and mutant strains did not reveal any significant differences in colony morphology, biochemical metabolic profiles, growth in complex or defined media, surface hydrophobicity, or coaggregation properties. Scatchard analysis of adhesion isotherms demonstrated that the wild-type strains adhered better to human parotid-saliva- and amylase-coated hydroxyapatite than did the AbpA mutants. In contrast, the mutant strains bound to whole-saliva-coated hydroxyapatite to a greater extent than did the wild-type strains. While the wild-type strains preincubated with purified salivary amylase grew well in defined medium with potato starch as the sole carbohydrate source, the AbpA mutants did not grow under the same conditions even after preincubation with amylase. In addition, the wild-type strain produced large microcolonies in a flow cell biofilm model, while the abpA mutant strains grew much more poorly and produced relatively small microcolonies. Taken together, these results suggest that AbpA of S. gordonii functions as an adhesin to amylase-coated hydroxyapatite, in salivary-amylase-mediated catabolism of dietary starches and in human saliva-supported biofilm formation by S. gordonii.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Isolation of mutants defective in alpha-amylase from Bacillus subtilis: genetic analyses.

The rate of alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) synthesis in Bacillus subtilis is regulated by a gene, amyR, located near a structural gene, amyE, for the enzyme. To construct a fine map of the amyR-amyE region, we isolated 28 mutants defective in alpha-amylase activity. Eleven mutants out of 28 showed no alpha-amylase activity, whereas the other 17 showed less alpha-amylase activity than the parent. Out of 17 partially positive alpha-amylase mutants, 10 produced temperature-sensitive enzymes, and 4 produced immunologically altered enzymes, two of which are concurrently temperature-sensitive, and 5 produced smaller amounts of alpha-amylases which are indistinguishable from normal enzyme in their temperature sensitivity and immunological properties. Two out of 11 alpha-amylase-negative mutants produced material that cross-reacted with anti-amylase serum, and 3 mutants carried suppressible mutations by the suppressor described by Okubo. Mapping data indicate that all 28 mutation sites are located in the amyE region, and none of the groups of the mutants mentioned above contains lesions that are clustered in a single region of amyE. The amyR gene seems most likely to adjoin the terminal region of amyE.

Amylases↗

Haloalkaliphilic maltotriose-forming alpha-amylase from the archaebacterium Natronococcus sp. strain Ah-36.

A haloalkaliphilic archaebacterium, Natronococcus sp. strain Ah-36, produced extracellularly a maltotriose-forming amylase. The amylase was purified to homogeneity by ethanol precipitation, hydroxylapatite chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, and gel filtration. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 74,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The amylase exhibited maximal activity at pH 8.7 and 55 degrees C in the presence of 2.5 M NaCl. The activity was irreversibly lost at low ionic strength. KCl, RbCl, and CsCl could partially substitute for NaCl at higher concentrations. The amylase was stable in the range of pH 6.0 to 8.6 and up to 50 degrees C in the presence of 2.5 M NaCl. Stabilization of the enzyme by soluble starch was observed in all cases. The enzyme activity was inhibited by the addition of 1 mM ZnCl2 or 1 mM N-bromosuccinimide. The amylase hydrolyzed soluble starch, amylose, amylopectin, and, more slowly, glycogen to produce maltotriose with small amounts of maltose and glucose of an alpha-configuration. Malto-oligosaccharides ranging from maltotetraose to maltoheptaose were also hydrolyzed; however, maltotriose and maltose were not hydrolyzed even with a prolonged reaction time. Transferase activity was detected by using maltotetraose or maltopentaose as a substrate. The amylase hydrolyzed gamma-cyclodextrin. alpha-Cyclodextrin and beta-cyclodextrin, however, were not hydrolyzed, although these compounds acted as competitive inhibitors to the amylase activity. Amino acid analysis showed that the amylase was characteristically enriched in glutamic acid or glutamine and in glycine.

Amino Acids↗

Intracellular alpha-amylase of Streptococcus mutans.

Sequencing upstream of the Streptococcus mutans gene for a CcpA gene homolog, regM, revealed an open reading frame, named amy, with homology to genes encoding alpha-amylases. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a strong similarity (60% amino acid identity) to the intracellular alpha-amylase of Streptococcus bovis and, in common with this enzyme, lacked a signal sequence. Amylase activity was found only in S. mutans cell extracts, with no activity detected in culture supernatants. Inactivation of amy by insertion of an antibiotic resistance marker confirmed that S. mutans has a single alpha-amylase activity. The amylase activity was induced by maltose but not by starch, and no acid was produced from starch. S. mutans can, however, transport limit dextrins and maltooligosaccharides generated by salivary amylase, but inactivation of amy did not affect growth on these substrates or acid production. The amylase digested the glycogen-like intracellular polysaccharide (IPS) purified from S. mutans, but the amy mutant was able to digest and produce acid from IPS; thus, amylase does not appear to be essential for IPS breakdown. However, when grown on excess maltose, the amy mutant produced nearly threefold the amount of IPS produced by the parent strain. The role of Amy has not been established, but Amy appears to be important in the accumulation of IPS in S. mutans grown on maltose.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunohistochemical analysis of amylase isoenzymes in thyroid cancer.

The expression of amylase in various histological types of thyroid cancer was studied by an immunohistochemical technique, using a polyclonal antiamylase antiserum and two monoclonal antibodies specific for salivary and pancreatic-type amylases, respectively. Amylase was expressed in 21 of 24 (88%) thyroid cancers by polyclonal antiserum analysis. Analysis by monoclonal antibodies, however, showed that only 13 (54%) cases and three (13%) cases contained salivary-type and pancreatic-type amylases, respectively. Moreover, immunoreactivity for pancreatic-type amylase was detected only in medullary carcinoma; other histological types were positive for salivary-type amylase. These results show that thyroid cancer frequently expresses amylase, and suggest that the differences between amylase isoenzymes in thyroid cancer may correlate with those found between cellular origin of tumour.

Amylases↗

Hepatobiliary and pancreatic clearance of circulating pancreatic amylase.

The hepatobiliary and pancreatic uptake of pancreatic amylase was studied in the conscious rabbit. Four hours after intra-arterial injection of 125I-labeled porcine or rabbit pancreatic amylase, about 7% of the administered radioactive dose appeared in liver and bile, but less than 0.2% appeared in the pancreas and pancreatic juice. No amylolytic activity was detectable in bile, but a significant fraction of the acid-precipitable radioactive counts in bile comigrated with the injected amylase on gel autoradiography. Enzymatic activity appeared in bile after continuous intraarterial infusion of pancreatic amylase with excellent correlation between biliary and plasma amylase activities (r greater than or equal to 0.94). Only a small percentage (0.002%) of amylase delivered to liver, however, was excreted into bile. After intraduodenal instillation of radiolabeled pancreatic amylase or ribonuclease A, virtually none of the radioactivity appeared in the pancreas, and none in bile was acid precipitable. We conclude that a small but definite amount of the circulating pancreatic amylase is excreted intact into bile in the conscious rabbit. There is, however, no significant enterohepatic or enteropancreatic circulation of pancreatic enzymes.

Amylases↗

EGF inhibits secretagogue-induced cAMP production and amylase secretion by Gi proteins in pancreatic acini.

In pancreatic acinar cells, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor interacts with both cholera toxin- and pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G proteins. In the present study, isolated rat pancreatic acini were used to investigate the effect of EGF on basal and secretagogue-induced adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production and amylase release. EGF increased cAMP production and amylase release in pancreatic acini. However, cAMP accumulation and amylase release elicited by either vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or forskolin were inhibited by EGF (17 nM). EGF inhibited the VIP-induced cAMP production and amylase release with a half-maximal effective concentration of 3 and 2 nM, respectively. EGF had no effect on the N6,2'-O-dibutyryladenosine-3',5'-monophosphate-stimulated amylase release, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of EGF on the VIP- and forskolin-induced cAMP production is due to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. PTX pretreatment of the acini led to an increase of the basal, EGF-, and VIP-stimulated cAMP accumulation and amylase release, indicating that PTX-sensitive G proteins exert tonic inhibition of adenylyl cyclase even in the absence of agonist. In PTX-pretreated acini, the inhibitory effect of EGF on the VIP-induced cAMP production and amylase release was abolished. In conclusion, these results suggest that EGF inhibits secretagogue-induced cAMP production via activation of PTX-sensitive G proteins in rat pancreatic acini, whereas EGF-induced cAMP production and amylase release occurs via a PTX-insensitive pathway.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗

Effects of ions on amylase release by dissociated pancreatic acinar cells.

Dissociated acinar cells prepared from guinea pig and mouse pancreas were intact on the basis of structure, ion content, and their ability to increase release of amylase in response to bethanechol and the calcium ionophore A23187. Guinea pig but not mouse acinar cells increased amylase release in response to caerulein. An increase in the concentration of K+ in the medium, which increases amylase release from whole pancreas, did not increase release. The effect of varying the ionic content of the medium on basal and stimulated amylase release was studied. Bethanechol and caerulein were still able to stimulate amylase release when Ca2+ was omitted from the medium, whereas stimulation induced by A23187 was abolished. Elevation of the concentration of Mg2+ did not affect basal or stimulated amylase release. Removal of Na+ from the medium initially had no effect on amylase release although bethanechol-stimulated release by mouse cells was inion of the HCO3- or Cl- content of the medium did not affect cholinergic stimulation of secretion. It is concluded that stimulated amylase release by isolated acinar cells is relatively independent of the ionic constituency of the bathing medium.

Amylases↗

Pancreatic growth after pancreatico-biliary diversion does not increase the capacity to secrete amylase.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulates secretion and evokes a hyperplastic response in the rat pancreas. The aims of this study were to measure the effect of chronic hyperCCKemia induced by pancreatico-biliary diversion (PBD) on pancreatic enzyme concentrations, on amylase secretion by dispersed acinar cells, and on the CCK-stimulated secretion of pancreatic juice in PBD-operated rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five Sprague-Dawley male rats had either PBD or sham operation 4 weeks before sacrifice or additional experiments. In the first study, 25 rats (13 PBD and 12 sham-operated rats) were either freely fed or fasted overnight before sacrifice. The pancreas was dissected out, weighed and analyzed. In the second study, the rats (6 PBD and 7 sham-operated rats) were fasted overnight before pancreatic acini were prepared. Secretion of amylase during stimulation of acini with CCK-8S and carbachol was measured. In the third study (5 sham-operated and 4 PBD rats), the rats were fasted overnight before basal and CCK-stimulated secretion was measured in vivo. RESULTS: PBD-operated rats showed a threefold increase in pancreatic wet weight with increased contents of DNA, protein and water. The concentration of pancreatic amylase was 7-12% of that found in control animals. The concentrations of trypsin and lipase were also lowered. Stimulation of dispersed pancreatic acini with CCK-8S or carbachol resulted in secretion of amylase to a similar extent in PBD and sham-operated rats. There was no difference in the secretion of pancreatic juice in response to CCK, but although the output of amylase from PBD-operated rats increased with CCK, it remained at a low level throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: PBD evoked hyperplastic changes in the rat pancreas and decreased the concentrations of amylase, trypsin and lipase. However, the capacity of acinar cells to secrete amylase remained intact. The stimulated pancreatic secretion was not changed in volume, but the output of amylase was low in PBD-operated rats. The findings are consistent with the idea that the enlargement of the pancreas following PBD does not improve the secretory capacity.

Amylases↗

An amylase-producing serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary.

A patient with an amylase-producing serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary had elevated serum and urine amylase levels and high levels of amylase in pleural and ascitic fluids. Serum and urine amylase levels reflected both surgical removal of tumor mass and response to chemotherapy. Tumor homogenates had pronounced amylase activity. Salivary type amylase isozyme patterns were found in electrophoresis of samples from all sources. Ascites tumor cells were successfully cultured and salivary type amylase was found in the culture media throughout 5 passages. The tumor was classified by light microscopy as poorly differentiated serous cystadenocarcinoma. Ultrastructural studies on the tumor were consistent with that diagnosis. Amylase was detected in the cells of the tumor examined by the immunoperoxidase technique.

Amylases↗

Job categories and their effect on exposure to fungal alpha-amylase and inhalable dust in the U.K. baking industry.

Enzymes in flour improver, in particular fungal alpha-amylase, are known to be a significant cause of respiratory allergy in the baking industry. This study measured total inhalable dust and fungal alpha-amylase exposures in U.K. bakeries, mills, and a flour improver production and packing facility and determined whether assignment of job description could identify individuals with the highest exposures to fungal alpha-amylase and inhalable dust. A total of 117 personal samples were taken for workers in 19 bakeries, 2 mills, and a flour improver production and packing facility and were analyzed using a monoclonal based immunoassay. Occupational hygiene surveys were undertaken for each site to assign job description and identify individuals who worked directly with flour improvers. Analysis of exposure data identified that mixers and weighers from large bakeries had the highest exposures to both inhalable dust and fungal alpha-amylase among the different categories of bakery workers (p<.01). Currently, the maximum exposure limit for flour dust in the United Kingdom is 10 mg/m(3) (8-hour time-weighted average reference period). In this study 25% of the total dust results for bakers exceeded 10 mg/m(3), and interestingly, 63% of the individuals with exposure levels exceeding 10 mg/m(3) were weighers and mixers. Individuals who worked directly with flour improvers were exposed to higher levels of both inhalable dust and fungal alpha-amylase (p<.01) than those who were not directly handling these products. Before sensitive immunoassays were utilized for the detection of specific inhalable allergens, gravimetric analysis was often used as a surrogate. There was a weak relationship between inhalable dust and fungal alpha-amylase exposures; however, inhalable dust levels could not be used to predict amylase exposures, which highlights the importance of measuring both inhalable dust and fungal alpha-amylase exposures.

Allergens↗

The contribution of salivary amylase to glucose polymer hydrolysis in premature infants.

To determine whether salivary amylase of premature infants can function as a surrogate for pancreatic amylase, we evaluated its production in the infant, acid resistance, and hydrolytic potency in a simulated oropharyngeal, gastric, and intestinal environment. The activity of salivary amylase in 11 prematures varied between 1 and 33 U/ml; the isozymic profile and acid resistance of the premature salivary amylase were identical to those of the enzyme of adults. A "modular" formula containing 7 g/dl of a 14C labeled long chain glucose polymer with degrees of polymerization ranging between 18 and 29 glucose units was prepared. Salivary amylase, 1.1 U/ml, was added to this formula. The progressive breakdown of the 14C polymers as the milk was subjected to oropharyngeal, gastric, and intestinal phase environments was evaluated by quantifying the liberation of short-chain oligomers from the 14C labeled substrates. The gastric pH was varied between 2 and 5 and the gastric incubation time was either 5 or 180 min. Substantial gastric phase breakdown only occurred after 3 h of exposure at the higher pHs of 4 (12%) and 5 (32%). During the intestinal phase, salivary amylase activity resumed. Prior gastric phase pH affected ultimate intestinal phase breakdown, p less than 0.001; after 5-min gastric phases at pHs ranging from 2 to 5, the intestinal phase breakdown ranged from 17 to 55%. We conclude that the limited salivary amylase in the saliva of premature infants can produce significant glucose polymer digestion in both the stomach and small intestine but the digestion falls substantially short of that accomplished by usual concentrations of pancreatic amylase.

Adult↗

Breast-milk amylase activity in English and Gambian mothers: effects of prolonged lactation, maternal parity, and individual variations.

Breast milk contains an amylase that may contribute to carbohydrate digestion in infants. The aim of our study was to determine whether mothers differ in their breast-milk amylase activity and whether the activity is maintained during prolonged lactation. This was investigated by measuring breast-milk amylase activity by hydrolysis of maltotetraose in 63 English mothers of parity 1-5 and 107 Gambian mothers of parity 1-12 who were at various stages of lactation (0.5-27 mo). Amylase was present in all samples and showed a great range of activity from 0.08 to 3.53 IU/mL. Amylase activities did not vary during a feed nor over 24 h, and each mother had a characteristic level of activity in her milk. Amylase activity was higher in the 1st trimester of lactation, and decreased by 35% (p less than 0.001) to a plateau at 6-27 mo. Gambian mothers of very high parity (parity 11-12) had 54% of the activity of primiparous mothers (p less than 0.001), after adjustment for stage of lactation. Using community data on milk volume, the estimated breast-milk amylase intake by breast-fed children was on the order of 800-1000 IU/24 h in the 1st trimester and 400 IU/24 h in the 2nd year of lactation. Individual measurements emphasized the great differences in this intake among children of the same age. Our study showed that breast milk is an important source of amylase both in developed and developing countries, but there are large variations in intake among children.

Adult↗

Hormonal stimulation of alpha-amylase synthesis in porcine pancreatic minces.

Minces of porcine pancreas maintained a linear rate or protein synthesis for more than 4 h with similar kinetics in the presence of absence of hormones. alpha-Amylase protein, quantitated by using glycogen percipitation, SDS polyacrylamide gel analysis, and radioimmunoassay, was found to represent 6-7% of the total protein content of the minces. The addition of prostaglandin E1 (10-7M), or a pancreozymin preparation (3-10 Crick-Harper-Raper units/ml) to the incubation media produced within 60 min an increase in alpha-amylase protein above that stored in the tissue 10- to 20-fold greater than that observed in control minces. The addiction of cAMP analogs (10(-3)M) to the medium produced a more variable stimulation of alpha-amylase content. Quantitation of the incorporation of radiolabeled amino acid into alpha-amylase protein with simultaneous determination of the specific activity of the precursor pool suggested that these agents produced at least 3- to 5-fold stimulation of de novo alpha-amylase synthesis. This stimulation was not the result of decreased rates of alpha-amylase catabolism. The addition of actinomycin D (20 mug/ml), a concentration inhibiting more than 93% of new RNA synthesis, failed to alter the stimulation of alpha-amylase synthesis by these agents. Apparent hormonal stimulation of non-alpha-amylase protein synthesis was also observed.

Amylases↗

Purification and some properties of a Haim-sensitive alpha-amylase from newly isolated Bacillus sp. No. 195.

Newly isolated Bacillus sp. No. 195 produced an extracellular alpha-amylase sensitive to Haim which was found to inhibit specifically animal alpha-amylases. The enzyme was purified easily by two steps of starch adsorption and gel filtration using Sephacryl S-200. The purified enzyme, which showed a single band on native-PAGE or SDS-PAGE, had a molecular weight of 60,000 as judged on SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH value for activity and the isoelectric point were around 7.0 and 4.5, respectively. The sensitivity of the amylase to Haim was similar to that of animal amylase rather than bacterial amylase. It was suggested that a Haim-amylase complex might be formed at the molar ratio of 1:1. The amino acid sequence F-S-W similar to the triplet F-E-W highly conserved among alpha-amylases sensitive to proteinaceous inhibitors, such as Hoe 467-A or Haim, was found in the amino-terminal part of the No. 195 amylase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Serum total amylase activity and its isoenzyme fractions in newborn pigs with relation to growth and iron dextran-treatment.

Serum amylase activity was analyzed chromogenically (blue starch method) and its isoenzyme was separated by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis in newborn pigs comparing with those in adult pigs. Serum amylase activity in newborn pigs was about one half of adults' and increased with age. Serum amylase isoenzymes were separated into 4 fractions from the cathode. The isoenzymes were also classified in 5 types on the basis of the combination of these 4 fractions. Incidences of the fractions and the types were not significantly different between adults and newborns. After the iron dextran treatment, serum amylase activity as well as levels of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and packed cell volume increased. The rates of increase in hemoglobin and packed cell volume were more significant in the double treatment group than in the single treatment group, while serum amylase activity increased similarly in these 2 groups. The increase in serum amylase activity seemed to indicate that the development of amylase-producing organs was reinforced by the iron compound treatment. It is thought that serum amylase activity may be an indicator of healthy growth in newborn pigs.

Amylases↗