Detection and definition of canine intestinal carbohydrases, using a standardized method

Intestinal mucosa and pancreas from purebred Beagle dogs were assayed for carbohydrase activity, using several methods of tissue treatment. The enzymes found and studied were alpha-amylase, sucrase, lactase, amyloglucosidase, cellobiase, maltase, and isomaltase. Experiments using polyacrylamide gel columns and heat inactivation showed the presence of an isozyme of maltase which degrades isomaltose. This activity had not been previously demonstrated in dogs. An optimal standard procedure is presented for the preparation and assay of canine digestive enzymes. A statistical analysis of variance of the results showed that the variance was primarily associated with differences among dogs and not by variance within the procedure. When the different extraction procedures were used, results indicated that the level of enzymes detected differed with the method of treatment.