Quantitative Distribution of Some Enzymes along the Villi and Crypts of Human Small Intestine

Abstract

Nordström, C. & Dahlqvist, A. 1973. Quantitative Distribution of Some Enzymes along the Villi and Crypts of Human Small Intestine. Scand. J. Gastroent. 8, 407-416.

The quantitative distribution of sucrase, maltase, isomaltase, trehalase, lactase (also in a patient with hypolactasia), leucyl naphthylamidase, alkaline and acid phosphatase, acid and hetero β-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase and thymidine kinase, along the villi and crypts of the human small intestine has been studied by aid of a microdissection technique. The distribution patterns obtained show how different enzymic properties appear and change quantitatively with age and stage of differentiation of the epithelial cells. Digestive enzymes are almost exclusively present along the villi with highest activities in the mid-villi or apical halves of the villi. Within the villi, interesting differences in their distribution patterns are seen. Lysosomal enzymes have a rather flat distribution profile with about the same activities in the villi and crypts.

Key-words::

• Crypt
• digestive enzymes
• disaccharidases
• distribution
• galactosidases
• human
• intestine, small
• localization
• lysosomal enzymes
• villus