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Contribution of Serum Immunoglobulin Transudate to the Antibody Immune Status of Murine Intestinal Secretions: Influence of Different Sampling Procedures

Barbara Meckelein, Dörthe Externest, M. Alexander Schmidt, and Andreas Frey^*

Institut für Infektiologie, Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Entzündung, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, D-48149 Münster, Germany

Received 4 March 2003/ Returned for modification 30 April 2003/ Accepted 9 June 2003

Serum immunoglobulin transudation into the murine gut after intragastric immunization with the model antigen ovalbumin and cholera toxin adjuvant was investigated with regard to the mucosal sampling technique applied. The levels of serum-derived immunoglobulin A (IgA) turned out to be lowest in feces, intermediate in gut lavage fluid specimens, and highest in filter wick-collected samples. However, these levels did not exceed 2% of total and specific IgA in any mucosal sample type, except after the administration of very high antigen doses (1 mg of antigen per g of body weight), when transudation rates of up to 31% could be measured in filter wick-collected samples from individual animals. Luminal IgG was plasma transudate and/or bile borne and appeared to be reabsorbed at the mucosa to some extent.

Present address: Forschungszentrum Borstel, D-23845 Borstel, Germany.

Present address: Wyeth-Pharma, D-48159 Münster, Germany.