Intestinal secretion of immunoglobulins in the preruminant calf.

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  • 1 September 1972
    • journal article
    • Vol. 23  (3) , 299-312
Abstract
Intestinal immunoglobulins have been examined in secretions obtained from Thiry-Vella loops prepared in the mid-jejunum of six calves. Free secretory component and 11S IgA were demonstrated. Immunofluorescent studies of intestinal tissue confirmed the presence of a secretory IgA system similar to that described in other species. However quantitative assays showed that IgA was not at any time the predominant immunoglobulin in intestinal secretions. IgM consistently exceeded the level of IgA by approximately two-fold and its localization in lymphoid cells of the lamina propria and crypt epithelial cells suggested that IgM may normally play an important role in local intestinal defence in the calf.