[Development of the digestive function: regulation of the maturation of intestinal brush border enzymes]

Abstract

During the suckling period in mammals, the immaturity of the digestive function as well as several functional pecularities lead the gastrointestinal physiology to adapt to milk digestion and absorption. The dietary transition which occurs at weaning is accompanied by wide modifications as neonatal properties are lost and mature digestive functions are acquired. The involvement of factors like tissue interaction, hormones and nutritional substrates in the onset and subsequent maturation of intestinal brush border hydrolases is discussed.