title: Development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity in mouse small intestine: influence of cortisone and thyroxine.
abstract: The fetal and postnatal development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) activity has been examined in the different parts of the mouse small intestine. At 17 days of gestation, gamma-GT is present in all intestinal thirds and a decreasing gradient of activity from the proximal to the distal segments is already established. From 17 days of gestation up to 5 days after birth, a dramatic fall of activity is observed in all segments. gamma-GT activity reaches adult level before weaning in the proximal segment while it increases only during the 3rd postnatal week in the middle and distal intestinal segments. Daily administration of cortisone acetate (25 microgram/g b.w./day) for 3 days to 8-day-old mice elicits a premature increase of gamma-GT activity in all intestinal thirds, the maximal increase being observed in the proximal segment. On the other hand, thyroxine (1 microgram/g b.w./day) has no or little effect on the normal development of gamma-GT activity.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008871:Microvilli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D013974:Thyroxine; D003348:Cortisone