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Changes in Intestinal Lactase and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Levels with Age in the Baboon (Papio Papio)

1974; Elsevier BV; Volume: 66; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0016-5085(74)80175-7

1528-0012

J. D. Welsh, Lois Russell, Anthony W. Walker,

Muscle metabolism and nutrition

There has been debate about possible etiologies of low intestinal lactase levels in human subjects with primary lactose malabsorption.Data on other primates are not available; therefore a study of baboons was undertaken.Eight Olive baboons (Papio papio) from the same colony were killed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, and 36 months of age.The small intestines were divided into 10 equal segments and assayed for disaccharidase, alkaline phosphatase, and leucyl naphthylamidase activities.In comparison with the 1-to 4-month-old animals, lactase and cellobiase values were less in the duodenum and ileum in the 8-to 12-month-old animals, and lowest all along the intestine of the 36-month-old animal.Alkaline phosphatase activity was highest in the 1-to 4-month-old animals, and, after this age, was usually less than half that present in the younger animals.Sucrase, maltase, palatinase, trehalase, and leucyl naphthylamidase activities were essentially similar at all ages.The lower levels of lactase, cellobiase, and alkaline phosphatase in the older animals, in comparison to the 1-to 4-monthold baboons, appear to be a selective age-related phenomen.