Effect of maternal protein deficiency on intrauterine development of small intestine with special reference to alkaline phosphatase.

Rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity was found to be greater in the fetus near term than in the progeny at birth. A set back in the orderly development of the enzyme was observed in the duodenum of pups born to protein-deficient mothers. Electrophoretic studies on polyacrylamide gel showed homogeneity of the enzyme in fetus and newborn pups. Severe intrauterine growth retardation was associated with reduced size of the enterocytes and their nuclei.