Disaccharidase activity in intestine epithelium microvilli membranes of lambs during the first month after birth.

Disaccharidase activity was studied in microvilli membranes of enterocytes isolated from duodenum, jejunum and ileum of lambs at an age of 1, 7 and 23 days. A maximum of lactase activity was observed on the 7th day compared to activity on 1st and 23rd day after parturition and a decrease in enzyme activity on the 23rd day compared to activity on the 7th day. Differences, however, were significant only in respect to activity in ileum. A significant increase of maltase activity in ileum and jejunum was established on the 7th and 23rd day compared to activity on the 1st day after parturition. Trehalase activity attained a maximum in all the three intestine divisions, consequently it subsided with no statistically significant differences. Lactase activity in ileum was significantly lower compared to activity in jejunum of lambs at an age of 1 and 23 days. A marked decrease of maltase activity in distal direction was found only on 1 day-old lambs. No significant alterations were observed in trehalase activity along the small intestine of lambs of the three age groups.