Premature expression of sucrase-isomaltase triggered by corticoid -dependent changes in polyamine metabolism. Nsi-Emvo, Edouard, Bruno Chaton, Charlotte Foltzer-Jourdainne, Francine Gosse, and Francis Raul. Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de L'Appareil Digestif (IRCAD), H[circumflex]opitaux Universitaires; and Institut National de la Sant[acute]e et de la Recherche M[acute]edicale (INSERM) Unit[acute]es 184 and 381, INSERM, Strasbourg, France
APStracts 2:0127G, 1995.
A possible link beetween the corticoid-elicited premature expression of intestinal sucrase-isomaltase (SI) and endogenous changes in polyamine metabolism was investigated in preweaned rats. Starvation at postnatal day 12 caused a precocious expression of SI mRNA and activity. A rapid upsurge of serum corticosterone was observed during the first hour of isolation occuring in parrallel with a transient enhancement of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) expression and followed by an increase in mucosal polyamine content. Administration of the antiglucocorticoid RU 38486 completely prevented the starvation evoked stimulation of ODC. The treatment of the sucklings with RU or with [alpha]-difluoro-methylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of ODC, dramatically reduced the amount of SI mRNA. When exogenous hydrocortisone (HC) was administered to 12 day-old sucklings nourished by their dam, an important accumulation of ODC mRNA was observed, in the intestinal mucosa, 4h after treatment. Sucklings receiving HC and treated concomitantly either with RU or DFMO exhibited a reduced amount of ODC mRNA and a dramatic decline in both SI mRNA and activity. All together these data support the view that the premature induction of SI expression is dependent on changes in ODC expression and polyamine metabolism that can be elicited either by endogenous changes or by exogenously administered glucocorticoids.

Received 24 January 1995; accepted in final form 24 February
1995.
APS Manuscript Number G31-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 11 July 1995.