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. 1979 Dec;33:9–16. doi: 10.1289/ehp.79339

Biochemistry of intestinal development.

S J Henning
PMCID: PMC1638120  PMID: 575507

Abstract

In biochemical terms, the rat small intestine is relatively immature at birth and for the first two postnatal weeks. Then during the third week a dramatic array of enzymic changes begins, and by the end of the fourth week the intestine has the digestive and absorptive properties of the adult. Selective examples of these changes are discussed with emphasis on their implications for toxicological studies. The review also includes a detailed consideration of the roles of the dietary change of weaning and of glucocorticoid and thyroid hormones in the regulation of intestinal development.

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Selected References

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