Activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase and alanine and aspartate aminotransferase in different regions of the alimentary tract of adult White Rock cockerels.

1. Alkaline phosphatase [EC 3.1.3.1], acid phosphatase [EC 3.1.3.2], aspartate aminotransferase [ASAT, EC 2.6.1.1] and alanine aminotransferase [ALAT, EC 2.6.1.2] were measured in mucosal homogenates of different segments of the alimentary tract of White Rock cockerels. 2. The activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases were higher in the duodenum, jejenum and caecum than the anterior segments of the alimentary tract. 3. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase was higher in the oesophagus and crop than in the caudal segments of the alimentary tract. Alanine aminotransferase activity did not show any specific pattern. 4. The increased phosphatase activities in the caudal alimentary tract indicates their involvement in the nutrient transport across the mucosa. Aminotransferases were probably involved in the synthesis of amino acids and proteins in the anterior alimentary tract.