Lactase gene expression during early development of rat small intestine

Expression of lactase messenger (m) RNA and protein in rat small intestine during fetal and postnatal development was analyzed using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Lactase mRNA was first identified at 18 days of development, and lactase protein was first detected at day 20. Lactase mRNA and protein were present along the entire villus. Lactase mRNA increased, reaching a maximum at day 20. Just before birth a decrease in lactase mRNA was observed. In newborn intestine, lactase mRNA was present only from the base of the villus up to the mid-villus region and was undetectable up to the villus tips. Lactase protein continued to be expressed along the entire villus. These data show that expression of lactase mRNA and protein do not parallel, indicating a posttranscriptional control in fetal development. Lactase gene transcription is initiated late in gestation concomitant with villus formation and is exclusively seen in villus epithelial cells. The restriction after birth of lactase mRNA expression to cells at the villus base suggests the occurrence of a previously unknown step in postnatal differentiation of the enterocyte.