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

Abstract

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.