Abstract
The postnatal cessation of enhanced intestinal permeability in rats is controlled by activation of mucosal immune system. To study the effects of early antigen exposure on this process, rat pups were divided in three groups from 14 until 21 d of age. Controls (n=8) remained on normal maternal milk. In addition to this, group CM (n=8) received daily a gavage feed of cow's milk, in group D (n=6) cow's milk was given to dams. From HE stained oriented jejunal sections, mucosal eosinophils were counted on the basis of morphology using 400 x magnification, total area being 1.0 mm2 including epithelium and lamina propria. Intestinal absorption of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was assessed in vitro in Ussing chambers. The number of eosinophils, mean (95 % Cl)/mm2, was significantly higher in group CM; 303 (275, 331), than in group D; 162 (105, 219), and in controls; 185 (154, 216), p=0.0001. In the same way, the absorption of intact HRP, geom. mean (95 % Cl) ng x h−1 × cm−2, in group CM; 50 (35, 71), exceeded that of group D; 27 (17, 43), and controls; 11 (8, 16), p=0.0001. The absorption of degraded HRP was comparable in all groups. Our results show that foreign dietary proteins enhance intestinal permeability. The presence of eosinophils suggests that this is caused by an immune-mediated tissue dysfunction. Eosinophils, by releasing inflammatory mediators, may be important elements in such local hypersensitivity reactions.
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Arvola, T., Rantala, I. & Isolauri, E. GUT EOSINOPHILIC INFILTRATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY IN COW'S MILK FED SUCKLING RATS. Pediatr Res 32, 611 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00036
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00036