[Responses of peptide hydrolases of the small and large intestines in rats on the administration of antibiotics].

Effects of antibiotics on the structure and functional state of the intestine are not clear. We investigated some structural parameters of the small and large intestine, and activities of two intestinal peptide hydrolases in rats after administration of ampicillin and metronidazole during 3 and 5 days. After 3 days of antibiotic administration a decrease in the weight of mucosa in the small intestine, accompanied with a reduction in the villous height and width in this part of the intestine, and in the weight ofmucosa in the colon occured.