Disaccharidase activities in small intestinal mucosa of alloxan-diabetic mice.

Increased activities of maltase and sucrase of small intestinal mucosa were found in alloxandiabetic mice. Adrenalectomy did not affect the activities of the enzymes in normal mice, but lowered those of alloxan-diabetic mice as well as blood sugar level. Administration of glucocorticoid raised the enzyme activities in normal mice, non-diabetic adrenalectomized mice and adrenalectomized al1oxan-diabetic mice. Positive correlation was noted between blood sugar level and the activities of both enzymes. Lactase activity did not undergo any change under these conditions. Adrenal hyperfunction seems to play an important role in the increase of these enzyme activities_ Significance of these findings in alloxan-diabetes was also discussed.