Changes in small intestinal morphology, in the indices of cellular development, and in the activities of some mucosal enzymes were examined in broilers from hatch through 14 d. In addition the effects of holding birds without access to feed for 36 h and of deutectomy were examined. Development of the intestine was rapid from 2 d after hatch although rates of development were different in duoden...

Sucrase-isomaltase (SI) expression along the longitudinal and vertical axis of the small intestine was studied by sequentially isolating enterocytes from villus to crypt of rat proximal jejunum and distal ileum. Gradients of sucrase activity were observed with greatest activity occurring in jejunal and villus regions. Along the villus-to-crypt axis, gradients of SI mRNA abundance corresponded w...

The effects of serosally added 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, 100 microM) on the short circuit-current (Isc) across jejunum and ileum taken from fed, starved and undernourished (Gerbillus cheesmani) were investigated. The effects of the neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10 microM) on the basal Isc as well as on the maximum increase in Isc induced by 5-HT were also studied. There were regional variatio...

Intestinal transporter proteins and metabolizing enzymes play a crucial role in the oral absorption of a wide variety of drugs. The aim of the current study was to characterize better available intestinal in vitro models by comparing expression levels of these proteins and enzymes between porcine intestine, human intestine, and Caco-2 cells. We therefore determined the absolute protein expressi...