Lysosomal enzymes in the intestine of the newborn lamb.

Abstract

In the newborn lamb, activities of lysosomal enzymes are lower in the duodenum and jejunum than in the ileum. In contrast, there are only minor differences, if any, in activities of lysosomal enzymes between the regions of the small intestine of 5-day-old lambs. In the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, activities of hexosaminidase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-mannosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase and phosphodiesterase are greater in newborn than in 5-day-old lambs. Only in the distal part of the small intestine are activities of beta-glucuronidase, alpha-glucosidase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, acid phosphatase and cathepsin B higher in the newborn than in 5-day-old lambs. Cathepsin B activity is lower in the duodenum and jejunum of the newborn than in 5-day-old lambs.