INTESTINAL GOBLET CELL MUCUS RELEASE .2. INVIVO STIMULATION BY ANTIGEN IN THE IMMUNIZED RAT

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 122  (3) , 834-837
Abstract
Infusion of certain soluble immune complexes stimulated mucus release from the rat small intestine in vivo. The response of the intestine of normal and immunized rats to the infusion of antigen [Ag] alone was evaluated. One hour after the intraduodenal infusion of Ag, small intestinal washings were obtained and analyzed for the presence of 35S-labeled, high MW glycoprotein of goblet cell origin. The amount of goblet cell glycoprotein released was estimated from the radioactivity present in the void volume of a Sepharose 4B gel filtration column. The release of goblet cell mucus was enhanced by Ag stimulation in orally immunized animals. The discharge of goblet cell mucus was not increased after Ag infusion in animals immunized by the i.p. route despite the induction of high levels of serum antibody [Ab]. The inability to demonstrate release of mucus after Ag challenge in systemically immunized rats suggests that the amount or the type(s) of Ab required at the mucosal surface is produced only after oral immunization.