Figure 3

Distribution of the oleoyl-DHEA esterase activity along the alimentary canal in male and female Wistar rats. The measurements were done at three different pH and are expressed in pkat/g of protein; N = 5 for each pH group. The data are plotted against (X axis) the cumulative protein content of the different anatomic sections of the alimentary canal; this way, the surface areas of the space under the curve for each anatomic section roughly correlate with the overall esterase capability of the organ. STO = stomach; DUO = duodenum; JEJ = jenunum; ILE = ileum; CAE = caecum; LIN = large intestine. The statistical comparison of the groups (2-way ANOVAs) showed no significant differences between sexes at different pHs nor differences between different pH for both sexes.