title: Trypsin and chymotrypsin activity of the intestinal content in germfree, monoassociated and conventional rabbits.
abstract: Trypsin (T) and chymotrypsin (CHT) activities in luminal contents of the ileum, caecum and sigmoideum were followed in conventional (6 animals), monoassociated (5) and germfree (5) rabbits by pH-stat automatic titration using p-toluenesulphonyl-L-arginine methylester and acetyl-L-tyrosine ethylester as substrates. In conventional rabbits with complete microbial flora an aborally increasing decline of both proteolytic activities of luminal contents was determined (ileum T 198.2 - CHT 100.0; signmoideum T 10m.2 - CHT 68.8 mrg/g of intestinal content). Monoassociated animals represent a group different from both germfree and conventional animals. Trypsin and chymotrypsin of  intestinal contents were not significantly altered by the presence of megacaecum in germfree rabbits (ileum T 219.2 - CHT 160.2; sigmoideum T 208.8 - CHT 110.8 mug/g of intestinal content). Chymotrypsin in the intestinal contents appears more labile and more affected by microbial flora than trypsin.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000201:enzymology; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007082:Ileum / Q000201:enzymology; D007422:Intestines / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002918:Chymotrypsin; D014357:Trypsin