Development of disaccharidase activity in the small intestine of broiler chickens

1. The changes in disaccharidase activity in the small intestine of broiler chickens were investigated in isolated enterocytes on d 18 of embryonic development and d 1, 7, 21, 35 and 56 after hatching. 2. The specific activities of maltase, lactase and trehalase were greatest on d 18 of embryonic development. After hatching, maltase specific activity gradually decreased until d 18. 3. After d 7 postnatally only traces of lactase and trehalase activity were found in the enterocytes. 4. Significant sucrase activity was found on d 18 of embryonic development and the activity of this enzyme increased 2-fold after hatch and remained generally constant up to d 35, after which the enzyme specific activity declined.