Does ‘Sugar’ Permeability Reflect Macromolecular Absorption? A Comparison of the Gastro-Intestinal Uptake of Lactulose and Beta-Lactoglobulin in the Neonatal Guinea Pig

Intestinal closure to cow’s milk beta-lactoglobulin occurs within 6 days of birth in the guinea pig. Passive intestinal permeability to lactulose persists through the suckling period. The uptake of small water-soluble markers does not reflect macromolecular absorption, and has no place in the measurement of immunologic protein handling by the gut.</jats:p

Early Rheumatoid-Like Joint Lesions in Rabbits Injected with Foreign Serum or Milk Proteins

The presence of circulating IgE-like antibody was found not to enhance the induction of joint lesions, of moderate or greater intensity, by intravenous injection of bovine serum, but did make mild joint lesions more frequent. There was a positive correlation between increased white cell effusion into the joint fluid and joint lesions of moderate or greater intensity. Different breeds of rabbit were shown to produce different incidences of lesions suggesting a genetic influence on the development of rheumatoid-like joint lesions. The Old English breed was found to be particularly sensitive.</jats:p

Early Rheumatoid-Like Joint Lesions in Rabbits Drinking Cows’ Milk

In a small experiment of 6 animals/group it was again shown that infiltrative synovial lesions could be induced in rabbits by the simple expedient of having the rabbits drink cows’ milk over a 12-week period. Drinking ½––¾ pint/day probably affords a small, but repeated, antigenic stimulation from intestinal absorption.</jats:p