THE EFFECT OF INCLUDING AVOPARCIN IN THE DIET ON CELL TURNOVER AND ENZYME ACTIVITY IN THE MUCOSA OF THE RAT SMALL INTESTINE

Abstract

Inclusion of avoparcin in the diet of rats resulted in a significant increase in dipeptidase activity in the mucosa of the small intestine. There was no change in the mucosal weight in the intestinal segments or in the fractional incorporation of thymidine into mucosal cells. This effect on enzyme activity may help explain some of the observations on the action of avoparcin in the small intestine. Key words: Avoparcin, small intestine, dipeptidase, rat