The uptake and transmission of protein by neonatal rat enterocytes.

1. Proximal enterocytes transmitted intact immunoglobulin G (IgG) preferentially in the order rat, human, sheep and bovine; the removal from the vascular compartment of these transmitted molecules occurred at about the same rate. 2. Heterologous IgGs are processed similarly to rat IgG: they are either transmitted intact or broken down to less than 1000 mol. wt. fragments. 3. All of the human transferrin removed from the intestine was broken down to less than 1000 mol. wt. fragments, but a small amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was transmitted intact. 4. The IgGs and BSA are relatively indigestible molecules whereas human transferrin is relatively digestible. 5. These observations are discussed in the context of receptor-mediated transmission.