β-Glucuronidase and β-Galactosidase Activities of the Large Intestine in Infants and Children of Different Ages

Abstract

[beta]-glucuronidase activity (substrate 0.001 M phenolphtaleinglucuronid) increases significantly after birth in the mucosa of the large intestine of children and infants. The mean values for children younger than 1 month was 1.49 ([plus or minus]0.294) [mu]g phenol-phthalein released/mg wet weight of the mucosa/60 min. in children from 1 to 12 months 2.72 ([plus or minus]0.230) and in children from 1 to 6 years old 4.15 ([plus or minus]0.358) [mu]g phenolphthalein. ([beta]-galactosidase activity (substrate 0.017 M o-nitrophenyl-[beta]-D-galactoside at pH 5.5) did not change in the same samples after birth.