The influence of lactation products on the temporal expression of histo-blood group antigens in the intestines of suckling pigs: lectin histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis.

Lectins and carbohydrate-specific monoclonal antibodies were used as cytochemical probes to investigate the possible influence of lactation products on the expression of intestinal membrane and secretory glycoconjugates in suckling piglets. Two different lactational regimes were compared; the first involved normal rearing of piglets for 8 weeks on a single dam and the second involved repeated cross-fostering of littermates onto recently farrowed sows, thereby restricting them to early milk. Five histo-blood group phenotypes were recognized within the piglet population: two immature phenotypes, 'O immature' or 'Oi' and 'A immature' or 'Ai', and three mature forms, 'O', 'A' and '-'. Under the normal suckling regime the transition from immature to mature OA phenotypes was evident at the fifth week post partum. However, in the repeatedly cross-fostered piglets this transition was evident much earlier at 3 weeks post partum. It is suggested that qualitative or quantitative variations in milk composition during the sow's lactation may significantly influence the expression of intestinal histo-blood group antigens in her suckling young.