Amylolytic activity in the digestive tract of lambs during the first months after birth

Abstract

Alpha-amylase activity in duodenal chymus and glucoamylase activity in homogenate and microvilli membranes of enterocytes from duodenum, jejunum and ileum of lambs at an age of 1, 7 and 23 days was studied. Alpha-amylase activity in duodenal chymus increases proportionally with increasing the age of lambs, at 7 and 23 days of age rising 2 and 3 times respectively compared to one-day age. Glucoamylase activity in homogenate and Microvilli membranes increases even at 7 day-age 3-6 times depending on the part of small intestine, then keeping on the whole the same level.