Dolichol content and isoprenolog distribution in developing rat small intestine

We examined developmental changes in dolichol concentration and isoprenolog distribution during the postnatal development of rat small intestine. We isolated dolichols from rat small intestinal lipids and quantified the isoprenologs by high performance liquid chromatography. The concentration of intestinal dolichol was highest in the intestine of the newborn rat and lowest in intestine from 19-day-old and lactating female rats. The predominant isoprenolog at all ages examined was that with 18 isoprene units. There was a significant increase in isoprenolog 17 during the 3rd wk of postnatal development and an increase in isoprenolog 19 in the adult rat small intestine. The timing of the changes in dolichol content suggests that this might be an important control point in intestinal glycoprotein synthesis during development.