[Effect of etretinate on the activity of intestinal disaccharidases]

The retinoid etretinate influences the proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells. Therefore, the activity of disaccharidases maltase and sucrase was measured in duodenum and jejunum after oral retinoid application to female mice. The enzymes are localized in the brush border of differentiating mucosal cells. The etretinate dose ranged from 0.1 to 1 mg/kg. The treatment with etretinate induced a decrease of the duodenal and jejunal disaccharidase activity. A correlation between the influence in intestinal enzyme activity and undesired gastrointestinal side effects which were described by GOLD et al. (1988) is supposed.