Distribution of Disaccharidases, Alkaline Phosphatase, and Some Intracellular Enzymes along the Human Small Intestine

Abstract

Asp, N.-G., Gudmand-Höyer, E., Andersen, B., Berg, N.-O. & Dahlqvist, A. Distribution of disaccharidases, alkaline phosphatase, and some intracellular enzymes along the human small intestine. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1975, 10, 647-651.

The longitudinal distribution of various enzymes along the human small intestine was studied by analysis of biopsies from different parts of the small intestine, obtained from 13 patients during shunt-operation for severe obesity. Alkaline phosphatase and 3 glycolytic enzyme activities studied were rather uniformly distributed along the small intestine. Acid β-galactosidase and hetero β-galactosidase activities were highest in the proximal small intestine with a gradual decline throughout the intestine. The activity in the distal ileum was about half of the maximum activity. Maltase, isomaltase, sucrase, and trehalase activity had a broad maximum in the proximal and middle small intestine with a rather sharp decrease in the distal ileum. Lactase activity had a more pronounced maximum in the middle intestine with a pronounced decrease towards the proximal and distal ends. The disaccha-ridase activities in surgical biopsies taken 5 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz were about 10% higher than in peroral biopsies taken just at the ligament.

Key-words::

• Aldolase
• disaccharidase
• enzyme
• β-galactosidase
• hexokinase
• ileum
• intestine, small
• jejunum
• lactase
• phosphatase, alkaline