Developmental changes of adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, and uricase in mouse tissues

The activities of adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, and uricase were followed in the liver, kidney, stomach, and intestine during pre- and postnatal development of the mouse. Results indicated that some type of coordinate control exists between the uricase and the xanthine oxidase levels in liver, stomach, intestine, and kidney. No coordinate control was seen between adenosine deaminase and xanthine oxidase in liver and kidney. The developmental changes between the intestine and stomach xanthine oxidase and adenosine deaminase were found to be related. The results obtained were consistent with the idea that intermediate metabolites in a pathway play some role in controlling the level of enzymes further down the pathway.A superificial resemblance in the timing of changes in feeding habits and changes in enzyme levels during development was found. Results of artifical change of feeding habit indicate that the control of enzyme levels was inherent rather than the result of dietary change.