SODIUM INSENSITIVE BRUSH BORDER MEMBRANE SUCRASE IN SHEEP INTESTINE

Abstract

Dietary sugars and intermediate products of starch digestion are hydrolyzed by small intestinal epithelial cell enzymes associated with the brush border membranes. The BBM consists of enzyme sucrase and isomaltose, responsible for hydrolyzing the sucrose and maltose, constitutes approximately 10% of the intrinsic protein of brush border membrane. Dietary sugars regulate the activity of sucrase during ageing. Dietary control is particularly important in evaluating the maintenance of sucrose enzyme. It is observed that in ruminants the sucrase is either absent or present with feeble activity. The sucrase activity observed in the brush border membrane, which is of microbial origin and very much insensitive to the high concentrations of sodium. Sucrase and maltase activities are reported to be induced by dietary carbohydrates in the jejunum of rodents while, this phenomenon was lacking in sheep. During ageing the activity of sucrase is diminished in humans and rodents, but in contrast to this, such phenomenon is yet to be observed. The influence of age and high carbohydrate concentrations in the intestine on sucrase induction in sheep is yet to be established.