Sex variation in the activities of mucosal hydrolytic enzymes in the small intestine of the rat.

Mucosal response of alkaline phosphatase, ATPase and disaccharidase (lactase, maltase and trehalase) activities to sex hormones were studied by comparing male and female rats and castrated males and by injecting testosterone into castrated males. Alkaline phosphatase showed a very steep gradient in the small intestine from the oral to the aboral end, whereas ATPase activity in the ileum was still about 50% of that in the duodenum. Both enzymes showed only minor sex variations and weal response to castration. Lactase and maltase had peak activities in the jejunum, but trehalase activity was nearly equally high in the duodenal mucosa as in the jejunum. Jejunal lactase activity was about 50% lower in female than in male rats and castration decreased activity in males to the same low level as found in females. The administration of testosterone to castrated male rats did not enhance activity. Maltase activity showed similar sex variation, although castration was not able to decrease activity during the test period. Trehalase activity was lower in female than in male rats. The administration of testosterone enhance activity in castrated males.