Comparison of ß‐glucuronidase activity in the small intestine and cecum under aerobic versus anaerobic incubation conditions

Abstract

ß‐Glucuronidase activity under aerobic and anaerobic conditions was compared in both the small intestine and cecum for three laboratory animal species to determine if aerobic incubation could be substituted for the more technically difficult anaerobic technique. Differences in ß‐glucuronidase activity under aerobic versus anaerobic conditions were either nonsignificant or the activity was significantly higher under aerobic incubation conditions. The implication of this finding is that for studies where between group comparisons of different treatments are the primary goal that use of aerobic incubation conditions remains a reasonable alternative to the more cumbersome use of anaerobic technique. However, further study is necessary to evaluate the implications of differences observed among species and between tract areas prior to recommending use of aerobic incubation in studies evaluating metabolism of xenobiotics in the gut.

Key words:

• ß‐glucuronidase
• aerobic
• anaerobic
• intestinal tract