Induction of chick embryonic intestinal disaccharidases by hydrocortisone and sucrose in the organ culture system.

The effect of hydrocortisone and sucrose on the development of chick intestinal disaccharidases was studied using the organ culture system. When intestines of 15- and 17-day-old embryos were cultured in the presence of hydrocortisone, there was significant enhancement of disaccharidases activity compared with the control. However, there was no effect in the 20-day embryonic intestines. On the other hand, the disaccharidase activity of cultured intestines from 20-day-old chick embryos were significantly stimulated by the addition of sucrose. The observed increase in disaccharidase activity induced by the administration of hydrocortisone in 17-day-old embryos in vitro was sensitive to actinomycin D and cycloheximide. The activity induced by the administration of sucrose in 20-day-old embryos in vitro was sensitive to cycloheximide but insensitive to actinomycin D.