Age-related changes in brush border enzymes under different dietary conditions

We examined the age-related changes of renal brush border enzymes of male Donryu rats under different dietary conditions. High protein diet (51% casein) markedly decreased the activity of renal leucine aminopeptidase as compared with low protein diet (8% casein). No significant difference, however, was observed in the activity of renal maltase between high and low protein diets. Alkaline phosphatase activity from young adult (3-month-old) rats in the high protein diet group was significantly lower than that in the low protein diet groups. From these results, it is inferred that dietary conditions affect the age-related alteration of renal brush border enzymes. Together with the previous results, it is suggested that proteins of renal brush borders are altered differently during the aging process.