Effect of thyroidectomy on the activity of alpha-glucosidases and acid hydrolases in the small intestine of rats during weaning.

Adrenalectomy performed on 14-day-old rats delayed the usual increase of sucrase and maltase activity as well as the decrease of acid beta-galactosidase, beta-glucuroindase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity during the third postnatal week. Since these changes were only delayed, the role of the thyroid was explored. Thyroidectomy performed simultaneously with adrenalectomy on 14-day-old rats did not influence the increase in body weight and growth of the small intestine (already slowed down by adrenalectomy), but caused a further substantial delay in the maturation of the enzyme profile of the small intestine. Our results indicate that the thyroid is involved in regulation of the hydrolases studied.