Effect of starvation, alloxan diabetes and adrenalectomy on Na+ K+-ATPase of the mucosa of the small intestine of rat.

The dietary stress conditions such as starvation influenced Na+K+-ATPase activity which increased steadily above normal fed levels between the starvation periods of 24--48 hr. Also, an increased enzyme level was observed in alloxan diabetic rats and administration of insulin to diabetic rats led to a tendency towards a lowering of Na+K+-ATPase. Adrenalectomy brought about a lowering of Na+K+-ATPase activity from those of normals while the administration of hydrocortisone induced an enhancement. The results indicate that both starvation and diabetic conditions might cause a stress-like activation of adrenal cortex resulting in increased levels of glucocorticoids which in turn activate the intestinal Na+K+-ATPase activity.