Effect of antibiotics on carbohydrase activities of mouse small intestine

Abstract

• 1.

  1. Oral penicillin, neomycin or terramycin given for 4 weeks slightly decreased various carbohydrases of mouse small intestine; when the treatment was stopped the carbohydrases rose to their previous, untreated, levels.

• 2.

  2. The carbohydrases were mostly found in the jejunum.

• 3.

  3. The pH optima of the carbohydrases were 5·8–6·4.

• 4.

  4. With treated mice the protein content of the small intestine fell slightly; the water content remained unchanged.