Photomicrographs of H&E stained distal small intestine sections from 17 d-old rats, showing the appearance of mature enterocytes, lacking supranuclear vacuoles, in the villi epithelium after gavage feeding with different microbial-derived enzymes, a protease (A), amylase (B), lipase (C), and a mixture thereof (D) or water (control, E) during 14–16 days of age in suckling rats.

<p>The morphometric evaluation of the epithelial maturity, <i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., the portion of adult-type enterocytes, lacking supranuclear vacuoles, appearing on the villi is shown (F). The horizontal bar inserted indicates 100 μm; black connector line shows the portion of villus with adult-type epithelium, and white line shows the crypt region. Statistically significant differences between control and enzyme-treated groups (mean ± SD, n = 7) are indicated by *** <i>P</i> < 0.001.</p

Increased maturity of the small intestinal epithelium of 17 d-old rats, as shown by the portion of adult-type enterocytes, lacking supranuclear vacuoles, appearing on the villi in the distal small intestine after gavage feeding with increasing doses of a microbial-derived protease (P 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg per gram body weight) or water (control) during 14–16 days of age.

<p>Statistically significant differences between control and enzyme-treated group (mean ± SD, n = 5–6) is indicated by * <i>P</i> < 0.05, *** <i>P</i> < 0.001.</p

Body weight and gut organ growth of 17 d-old rats after gavage feeding with pancreatic enzyme preparation, Creon, or α-lactalbumin (control) during 14–16 days of age.

<p>The results (mean ± SD, n = 10–11) are presented per gram body weight (g b.wt). Significant differences between enzyme-treated and control groups are indicated by</p><p>* <i>P</i> < 0.05,</p><p>** <i>P</i> < 0.01,</p><p>*** <i>P</i> < 0.001; SI = small intestine.</p><p>Body weight and gut organ growth of 17 d-old rats after gavage feeding with pancreatic enzyme preparation, Creon, or α-lactalbumin (control) during 14–16 days of age.</p

Body weight, gut organ growth and stomach pH of 17 d-old rats after gavage feeding with microbial-derived enzymes, <i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., a protease, amylase, lipase, and a mixture thereof, or water (control) during 14–16 days of age.

<p>The results (mean ± SD, n = 7) are presented per grams body weight (g b.wt). Significant differences between enzyme-treated and control groups are indicated by</p><p>* <i>P</i> < 0.05,</p><p>** <i>P</i> < 0.01,</p><p>*** <i>P</i> < 0.001; SI = small intestine.</p><p>Body weight, gut organ growth and stomach pH of 17 d-old rats after gavage feeding with microbial-derived enzymes, <i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., a protease, amylase, lipase, and a mixture thereof, or water (control) during 14–16 days of age.</p

Gut organ growth and stomach pH of 17 d-old rats after gavage feeding a microbial-derived protease in increasing doses, or water (control) during 14–16 days of age.

<p>The organ results (mean ± SD, n = 5–6) are presented per gram body weight (g b.wt). Significant differences between protease-fed and control groups are indicated by</p><p>* <i>P</i> < 0.05,</p><p>**<i>P</i> < 0.01,</p><p>*** <i>P</i> < 0.001; SI = small intestine.</p><p>Gut organ growth and stomach pH of 17 d-old rats after gavage feeding a microbial-derived protease in increasing doses, or water (control) during 14–16 days of age.</p

Intestinal mucosal disaccharidase activities of 17 d-old rats after gavage feeding with microbial-derived enzymes, <i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., a protease, amylase, lipase, and a mixture thereof, or water (control) during 14–16 days of age.

<p>The results (mean ± SD, n = 7) are presented per gram of wet tissue. Significant differences between enzyme-treated and control groups are indicated by</p><p>* <i>P</i> < 0.05,</p><p>** <i>P</i> < 0.01,</p><p>*** <i>P</i> < 0.001.</p><p>Intestinal mucosal disaccharidase activities of 17 d-old rats after gavage feeding with microbial-derived enzymes, <i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., a protease, amylase, lipase, and a mixture thereof, or water (control) during 14–16 days of age.</p

Intestinal disaccharidase activities, <i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., lactase, maltase and sucrase (U/mg protein), in the proximal small intestine (A), and the portion of adult-type enterocytes, lacking supra-nuclear vacuoles, appearing on the villi in the distal small intestine (B) after gavage feeding the pancreatic enzyme preparation, Creon, or α-lactalbumin (control) during 14–16 days of age in 17 d-old suckling rats.

<p>Statistically significant differences between control and enzyme-treated groups (mean ± SD, n = 10–11) are indicated by *** <i>P</i> < 0.001.</p