Changes in rat gastric proteases with age: effect of hydrocortisone.

Gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 of rat gastric mucosal preparation shows two peaks of proteolytic activity. These peaks differ at different ages of animals. The proteolytic activity of the gastric mucosa is spread over a wider range of pH in younger animals than older ones with a shift from higher pH towards lower pH values with increasing age. Hydrocortisone injection to nine day-old rats results in qualitative changes of gastric mucosal proteases, the proteolytic activity pattern of young treated animals being similar to that of untreated adult rat.