Morphology and enzyme aktivity in rat small intestinal epithelium 6 and 12 hrs. after an alkylating agent (cyclophosphamide).

Six and twelve hours after a single i.p. dose of cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg body weight) the activity of different "brush border enzymes" (maltase, sucrase lactase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase) and of a lysosomal enzyme (acid phosphatase) did not change. In vivo absorption of galactose was not diminished by the treatment. The pattern of response to cyclophosphamide seems to be different in SPF and GF rats. The response of crypt epithelium (cell number, mitotic number, mitotic frequency) was more pronounced in the SPF rats, whereas the villus height only decreased in the GF rats.