Diamine oxidase (DAO) activity and intestinal mucosa integrity: influence of suture techniques.

After various kinds of intestinal mucosal injuries, whether by disease or by experiment, the diamine oxidase activity is reduced. Therefore, we studied the effect of surgical manipulations on the intestinal mucosa and diamine oxidase activity. The reaction of the gut on the insertion of sutures was a transient increase of the enzymic activity followed by reduction as soon as the mucosa started to gain weight. After a standardized pressure injury only a reduction of the diamine oxidase activity together with an enhancement of the mass of the intestinal wall was found. A hypothesis of a feed-back regulation of the diamine oxidase activity connected with mucosal proliferation is proposed.