Short‐Term Malnutrpition in Neonatal Rabbits. I. Brush Border Enzymes

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SummarySeventy‐two hour starvation in neonatal rabbits was studied. Fasted animals received no feeds, only water every 8 h for 72 h. Fed animals were suekled by the dam. I here was no difference in birth weight, serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen, electrolytes, or urine specific gravity between led and fasted animals. Weight at 72 hr was less in lasted (p < 0.01) than fed rabbits. Serum cortisol (p < 0.05) and corticosterone (p < 0.01) levels were higher in the fasted group. Proximal and distal small bowel homogenates had less DNA and protein (p < 0.01) in the lasted group, but the protein DNA ratio was the same in the proximal and distal small bowel homogenates from both groups. Sucrase (E.C.3.2.1.26) specific activity was significantly increased in proximal small bowel homogenates from the fasted group (p < 0.01) but was the same in distal small bowel homogenates from both groups. Sucrase total activity per proximal segment was the same in fed and fasted animals but was significantly less per segment in distal small bowel homogenates from fasted animals. Alkaline phosphatase (E.C.3.1.3) total and specific activity was decreased in proximal (p < 0.01 ) and distal (p < 0.05) small bowel homogenates from the lasted group. Lactase (E.C.3.2.1.23) total activity was decreased in proximal and distal (p < 0.01) small bowel homogenates from the lasted group but lactase specific activity was unchanged. Thus, a brief period of malnutrition in neonatal animals can result in a variety of regional functional changes in the gastrointestinal mucosa.