AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 247, Issue 1 19-G23, Copyright © 1984 by American Physiological Society
Secretion of colonic isozyme of lysozyme in association with cecotrophy of rabbits
V. M. Camara and D. J. Prieur
The relation between the rabbit gastrointestinal (colonic) isozyme of
lysozyme and the unique circadial coprophagic behavior of rabbits, termed
"cecotrophy," was investigated. We found that lysozyme activity was very
low in all segments of the rabbit gastrointestinal tract proximal to the
fusus coli. However, the distal or nonsacculated colon, located distal to
the fusus coli, had very high lysozyme activity throughout. It was
determined, furthermore, that the lysozyme in the wall of the nonsacculated
colon was secreted circadially into the colonic lumen in association with
the circadial production of soft feces that were destined for reingestion
by cecotrophy. The colonic lysozyme, therefore, was transferred to the
stomach. These observations suggest that rabbit colonic lysozyme may have a
possible function in the upper gastrointestinal tract and be analogous to
ruminant abomasal-duodenal lysozyme.
