[Digestive enzyme activities in rats kept on standard or surplus breast-feeding and on low-protein diet directly after weaning].

Activities of digestive enzymes (maltase, alkaline phosphatase, amino peptidase M, and glycyl-L-leucine dipeptidase) in small and large intestine, liver, and kidney were studied in rats of different ages kept in normal (8) and low (3) amounts of pups per litter. The low-protein diet for 10 days at once after weaning was found to change the mass of the organs and their digestive enzyme activities in all studied rat groups. The revealed changes were more prominent in rats kept under conditions of breast-overfeeding. In adult animals of this group, distribution of the alkaline phosphatase activity along the small intestine differed from that in control rats. The obtained results seem to confirm the fact that any disturbance of the nutrition quality in early ontogenesis leads to disturbance of the "metabolic programming of enzyme systems" of digestive and non-digestive organs.

Delayed effects of the terms of separation of rat pups from lactating females and low-protein diet on enzyme activity in digestive and non-digestive organs.

Early and late separation of rat pups from lactating females and combined effects of the terms of separation and low-protein diet are essential for the formation of enzymes (maltase, alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase M, and glycyl-L-leucine dipeptidase) in the large and small intestine, liver and kidneys of adult animals. Similarities and differences in the enzyme reactions to early and late weaning and to a combination of untimely weaning and low-protein diet were detected.

[Effect of weaning terms and protein deficit in the rat pup nutrition on activities of digestive enzymes].

Restriction of protein in nutrition of rat pups weaned at different terms has been found to produce changes in activities of digestive enzymes (maltase, alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase M, and glycyl-L-leucine dipeptidase) in the small and large intestine both at once after cessation of nutrition with low-protein diet for 10 days and 4 months later. In adult animals after the earlier or later weaning there are observed not only a decrease or increase of the enzyme activities, but also a different type of distribution of the alkaline phosphatase activity along the small intestine, which is more pronounced in the lately weaned rats. Thus, disturbance of metabolic programming of enzyme systems of the small and large intestine due to a change of quality of nutrition in early ontogenesis depends on terms of weaning of animals.

Origination of stromal precursor cells replenishing the population of these cells in heterotopic mouse bone marrow transplants after curettage in recipients.

Curettage of bone marrow cavities of two bones (femoral and crural) in recipient mice causes a drastic (more than 7-fold) increase in the count of stromal precursor cells in heterotopic bone marrow transplants. Stromal colonies in cell cultures from these transplants consist of fibroblasts with an appreciable admixture of macrophages. All y chromosome-typed colonies from cultures of female donor bone marrow transplants in recipient males (intact and subjected to curettage) contained cells carrying and not carrying y chromosome. Quantitative results of Y chromosome typing of cells from colonies corresponded to the fibroblast/macrophage ratio in colonies and the predominant localization of the label corresponded to predominant localization of macrophages (at the periphery of colonies). The results indicate that the pool of bone marrow stromal precursor cells under conditions of increased demands originates from local sources, which confirms ample data on inability of these cells to migration.

[Effect of peptide Livagen on activity of digestive enzymes in gastrointestinal tract and non-digestive organs in rats of different ages].

It is stated that Livagen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala) is a weakly hydrolyzed peptide. Peptide hydrolases of small intestine do not hydrolyze Livagen even to a small extent. Under in vitro conditions Livagen reduces glycil-L-leucinedipeptidase activity in small intestine by 50%. After two weeks of Livagen administration per os in rats the digestive enzymes activity in young animals reduces, while in old animals it increases. It should be mentioned that the activity of enzymes in old rats after Livagen administration in the majority of cases approaches to the level of the activity in young animals of control group.

Relationship between protein deficiency in the ration of rats during early ontogeny and function of enzyme systems of digestive and non-digestive organs in adult life.

Low protein content in the ration of rat pups during transfer from mixed to definitive nutrition (days 21-30 of life) has a negative impact on digestive function of the small intestine and trophic and barrier functions of the large intestine, liver, and kidneys and increases (sucrase, glycyl-L-leucin dipeptidase) or decreases (alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase M, glycyl-L-leucine dipeptidase) enzyme activities in these organs in 6-month-old rats. Protein deficiency during the early ontogeny modulates functioning of the enzyme systems in digestive and non-digestive organs in adult life, which can lead to the development of not only gastrointestinal, but other visceral diseases.

Protein-deficient diet in pregnant females impairs functional activity of enzyme systems in digestive and non-digestive organs in the offspring.

Activity of disaccharidases in various portions of the small intestine markedly increased in 6-month-old offspring of pregnant females feeding a protein-deficient diet. Activities of amino- and dipeptidases decreased in the kidneys, while alkaline phosphatase activity remained practically unchanged. Probably, information about protein restriction in nutrition of pregnant females is stored in the biochemical memory of adult offspring and promotes the development of metabolic disturbances.

[Effects of thyroxine and dexamethasone on kinetic characteristics of the small intestine enzymes in rat pups following a low-protein diet in female rats during lactation]. / Vliianie tiroksina i deksametazona na kineticheskie kharakteristiki fermentov tonkoi kishki krysiat pri nizkobelkovom ratsione samok v period laktatsii.

It is shown, that the value of Km for maltase, alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase M and glycyl-L-leucinedipeptidase, prepared from the jejunum and ileum of 10-day rat litter in membrane and soluble forms in most cases differed but a little in control animals and the rat litter whose mothers in the period of lactation had a diet with 2.5-fold reduced content of protein, and did not change under action of injected thyroxin and dexamethasone. It may be assumed that in the given experimental conditions each of the investigated digestive hydrolases in membrane and soluble forms represents the same enzyme. In conditions of the protein insufficiency in lactating females diet and under action of exogene hormones, apparently, no significant changes occur in structure of synthesised enzymes.

[Delayed effects of protein deficiency in nutrition of the pregnant rats on development of the enzymatic system in digestive and nondigestive organs of offspring]. / Pozdnie éffekty defitsita belka v pitanii beremennykh samok krys na formirovanie fermentnogo spektra pishchevaritel'nykh i nepishchevaritel'nykh organov u potomstva.

It has been found for the first time that protein deficit in female's nutrition during prenatal development of the offspring is accompanied by considerable changes in the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes and of the same hydrolases in the colon, liver and kidneys both in early and in late ontogenesis. It seems possible that changes of the small intestine enzyme functions and hydrolytic functions of other digestive and non-digestive organs in result of an unfavorable early "metabolic/nutritional programming" may be crucial in disorders of metabolic processes leading to development of diseases of risk in adult life.

Effect of Vilon and Epithalon on glucose and glycine absorption in various regions of small intestine in aged rats.

Vilon (Lys-Glu) and Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) administered orally for 1 month improved transport characteristics of the small intestine in aged rats. Vilon enhanced passive glucose accumulation in the serous fluid in inverted sac made from the distal region of the small intestine, while Epithalon enhanced this process in the medial region. Vilon stimulated active glucose accumulation in the serous sac of the medial small intestine, Epithalon - in the proximal and distal small intestinal segments. Glycine absorption increased only in the proximal intestinal segment under the effect of Epithalon.

Effects of epithalon on activities gastrointestinal enzymes in young and old rats.

Peroral administration of Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) to male and female Wistar rats aging 3 and 11 months changed activity of enzymes hydrolyzing carbohydrates, proteins, and phosphoric acid esters in various portions of the gastrointestinal tract. The most pronounced activation of enzymes was observed in 11-month-old animals. This effect diminished the differences in enzyme activities between young and old rats (compared to untreated animals). Our results indicate that Epithalon modulates activity of gastrointestinal enzymes during aging.

Delayed consequences of protein deficiency during lactation for the development of enzyme systems of digestive and nondigestive organs in offspring.

Suboptimal protein nutrition during lactation has a negative impact on the digestive function of the small intestine and trophic barrier functions of the large intestine, liver, and kidneys due to significant enzyme deficiency (disaccharidase, peptidase, alkaline phosphatase) in 6-month-old offspring. Changes in enzyme activity in digestive and nondigestive organs play an important role in metabolic disorders promoting the development of "risk diseases" and reducing lifespan.