Secretion and Immunochemical Properties of the Trypsin Inhibitor from Bovine Colostrum

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Abstract
A trypsin inhibitor was isolated from bovine colostrum by affinity chromatography. Immunoelectrophoresis detected 2 immunogenic components in the isolated inhibitor, but only 1 of these was specific for the inhibitor. The other 1 was identical with an antigen present in liver, kidney, spleen, adrenal, thyroid, thymus, brain, ovarian, testicular and udder tissue and in bull seminal plasma. Using immunoabsorption and immunofluorescence the antigens specific for the trypsin inhibitor of colostrum were demonstrated only in the tissue of an udder that is secreting colostrum. The inhibitor is secreted by the secretory epithelium of the milk alveoli of the udder, during the period when the latter secretes colostrum. This inhibitor was not detected in the milk. Cross-reaction between antisera to colostral inhibitor and basic pancreatic inhibitor or seminal plasma inhibitors yielded negative results. Antiserum to bovine colostral inhibitor showed a positive reaction with inhibitor isolated from porcine colostrum.