Changes in the ileal disaccharidase activities in rats after long-term ethanol feeding.

Brush border enzymatic activities (maltase, lactase and sucrase) have been determined in the ileal mucosa of rats subjected to a 30% ethanol ingestion for 3 and 5 months. The data were compared with the results obtained with control rats. Mucosal protein content after 3 months of ethanol treatment was similar to that of control rats. Maltase, lactase and sucrase specific activities in ileal mucosa were significantly decreased in ethanol-fed animals as compared to control rats. After 5 months of ethanol consumption, the protein content was decreased in ethanol-fed rats. However, no differences were found between specific activities of maltase, lactase and sucrase of ethanol-fed with respect to control rats. It is suggested that prolonged exposure of rats to ethanol results in adaptive responses to the effects of shorter periods of exposure on intestinal mucosal function.