Prostaglandins E1 and E2 stimulate release of intestinal brush border enzymes

Rat small bowel was perfused in vivo and ex vivo in the absence of biliary and pancreatic secretion. Intraluminal release of sucrase, alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase and enterokinase was significantly increased after administration of PG E1 and E2 1 and 5 microgram/kg. This suggests a direct stimulation of the intestinal mucosa, which might be mediated through cyclic AMP; dibutyryl cAMP significantly stimulates intraluminal release of proteins, sucrase and enterokinase.