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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
09:40
A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
Published on: February 6, 2018
Spermine and spermidine induce intestinal maturation in the rat
C Dufour1, G Dandrifosse, P Forget
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Liège, Belgium.
Gastroenterology
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Oral polyamine administration, including spermidine and spermine, accelerated intestinal maturation in neonatal rats. This study demonstrates that polyamines induce significant structural and biochemical changes in the gut, promoting early development.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Developmental Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Neonatal intestinal maturation is a complex process crucial for nutrient absorption and immune function.
- Polyamines are essential for cell growth and differentiation, playing a role in various physiological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of oral polyamine administration on precocious intestinal maturation in neonatal rats.
- To determine if spermidine and spermine can induce structural and biochemical changes indicative of accelerated gut development.
Main Methods:
- Neonatal rats were orally administered saline, spermidine, or spermine on specific postnatal days.
- Intestinal segments were analyzed histologically and biochemically for enzyme activities (lactase, sucrase, maltase).
- Dose-response and early treatment experiments were conducted to assess the effects of spermine.
Main Results:
- Polyamine treatment significantly increased specific activities of intestinal disaccharidases (lactase, sucrase, maltase) compared to controls.
- Spermidine and spermine induced structural and biochemical mucosal changes characteristic of postnatal maturation.
- The maturational effects of spermine were found to be dose-dependent and effective even with early-life administration.
Conclusions:
- Oral administration of polyamines, spermidine and spermine, effectively induces precocious intestinal maturation in neonatal rats.
- Polyamines promote significant increases in key digestive enzyme activities and alter gut mucosal structure.
- These findings highlight the potential of polyamines as agents to accelerate intestinal development in early life.
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