Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T00:19:49.642Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The development of the digestive system of the young animal II. Carbohydrase enzyme development in the young pig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. M. Walker
Affiliation:
Royal Veterinary College, Camden Town, London, N. W. 1

Extract

1. Forty Large White pigs varying in age from birth to 5 weeks were slaughtered and their carbohydrate digesting enzymes studied for any change in activity with increase in age.

2. Pancreatic amylase, sucrase and maltase increased from low levels at birth to high levels at 5 weeks of age.

3. The total amount of lactase present at birth and of small intestine amylase at 1-week-old was maintained at a constant level up to 5 weeks of age. The increased weight of the intestine with the growth of the pig made the quantity of these enzymes appear to decrease with age when the values were expressed per kg. body weight or per g. dry tissue.

4. Anaemia had no marked effect on the activity of the enzymes though the rate of enzyme development appeared to be retarded in the case of maltase.

5. The quantity of pancreatic amylase present in the pancreas was sufficient at all ages to digest the amounts of starch likely to be included in a synthetic diet. Maltase, on the other hand, appeared to be limiting in early life.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1959

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bailey, C. B., Kitts, W. D. & Wood, A. J. (1956). Canad. J. Agric. Sci. 36, 51.Google Scholar
Cunningham, H. M. & Brisson, G. J. (1957 a). J. Anim. Sci. 16, 370.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cunningham, H. M. & Brisson, G. J. (1957 b). J. Anim. Sci. 16, 574.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hudman, D. B., Friend, D. W., Hartman, P. A., Ashton, G. C. & Catron, D. V. (1957). Agric. Fd Chem. 5, 691.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kitts, W. D., Bailey, C. B. & Wood, A. J. (1956). Canad. J. Agric. Sci. 36, 45.Google Scholar
Walker, D. M. (1959). J. Agric. Sci. 52, 352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar