[Effect of ethionine on intestinal enzymatic activity in adult rats]

The activity of intestinal enzymes (dipeptidase, monoglyceride lipase, amylase, invertase) was studied in intestinal mucosa homogenates from different parts of the small intestine in adult rats 24, 48, and 72 hours after a single intraperitoneal administration of ethionine in a dose of 500 mg/kg bw. 24 hours after antimetabolite administration there was a decrease in the abrasion of the small intestinal mucosa. The enzyme-forming function of the small intestine appreciably changed throughout the observation period. The activity of invertase, dipeptidase and amylase decreased. The monoglyceride lipase activity remained unchanged. The pattern of amylase and invertase distribution in the small intestine changed at the expense of inhibition of their activity in the duodenum and rise in the distal part.