Substrate specificity in the stimulation of intestinal ornithine decarboxylase activity by refeeding after starvation.

Jejunal loops in 3-day-fasted rats were perfused with hexoses and amino acids to test for their ability to stimulate intestinal ornithine decarboxylase activity. Intraluminal L- and D-glucose, galactose and 3-O-methylglucose were potent stimulants, while D-fructose and L-leucine were not. Intravenously infused D-glucose was also without effect. Induction of ornithine decarboxylase therefore appears to involve a receptor-mediated event which is probably located at the luminal cell surface.