Stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity in digestive tract mucosa

Refeeding fasted rats with normal rat food and with a variety of amino acids increases ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity considerably. The time course of that increase, the areas of the digestive tract directly affected, and the effective concentrations of stimulants are unknown. By use of isolated 5-cm segments of rat jejunum, we determined that maximal activation of ODC occurred after a 2-h exposure to 0.6 M glycine. Increased activity was first apparent after a 1-h exposure to glycine and was significant after a 2-h exposure to 0.05 M glycine. ODC activity increased the most in segments of jejunum, followed by segments of ileum and then duodenum. Glycine (0.4 M) failed to increase ODC activity in gastric and colonic mucosa. Interestingly, D-alanine was more effective than L-alanine in stimulating ODC activity in the jejunum. Enzyme activity was not dependent on osmotic activity of the test substances. Glucose increased enzyme activity, but mannitol and fructose were without effect. The effects of glycine were significantly greater than those of glucose. In summary, ODC of the small intestinal mucosa is increased by direct contact with amino acids and glucose within 2 h after exposure. Increased enzyme activity depends on the nature of the stimulant rather than the osmotic activity of the solution in contact with the mucosa.