EFFECT OF FOOD DEPRIVATION AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ON INTESTINAL ESTERASE ACTIVITY

Abstract

Esterase activity, and contents of protein, phospholipid, and cholesterol were measured in the liver and intestinal mucosa of male rats after 24 hr of food deprivation or treatment with corn oil (2.5 ml/kg, 3 days), aspirin (500 mg/kg, 3 days), cinchopen (600 mg/kg, 3 days), or phenobarbital (100 mg/kg, 3 days). After food deprivation for 24 hr, the total esterase activity was decreased in the intestinal mucosa and liver. Treatment with corn oil, increased the mucosal esterase activity to about twice that of the control but hepatic esterase activity did not change markedly, while total activity was decreased in post-mitochondrial supernatant or microsomal fraction of intestinal mucosa by treatment with cinchophen. Total and specific activities were increased in lysosomal fraction of intestinal mucosa by treatment with aspirin or cinchophen. In these rats, hepatic esterase activity was not markedly changed. In rats treated with corn oil or phenobarbital, cholesterol content in the intestinal mucosa was decreased, and the phospholipid content was increased significantly. By food deprivation or treatment with cinchophen, the content of protein, phospholipid or cholesterol decreased. These results indicate that characteristics of the esterase activity of intestinal mucosa are quite different from that in the liver. The dietary factor and drug adininstration may interfere with the intestinal ester-hydrolysis capacity.