Endocytosis and immunoglobulin transport across the small intestine of the new-born pig.

1. Measurements of porcine and human IgG transport across the small intestine of the new-born pig have been made in vivo and related to the amount of endocytosis taking place.2. The amount of immunoglobulins transported, following intraduodenal administration to conscious animals, is directly related to the degree of endocytosis which these proteins produce. Administration of protein in amounts sufficient to cause a maximal endocytotic response causes saturation of the protein transporting process.3. Absorption of small amounts of human IgG from the small intestine can be accelerated by the addition of sow colostrum or porcine IgG in quantities sufficient to stimulate endocytosis. These effects disappear when the amount of human IgG administered is itself sufficient to fully stimulate endocytosis.4. Preferential transport of porcine over human IgG can be demonstrated when both are given as a single solution to individual pigs. The degree of preference is, however, small in relation to the total amount of immunoglobulin transported.5. The initial formation of endocytotic vacuoles in the pig intestine seems, unlike the situation in rats and mice, to provide a major route for the trans-cellular movement of macromolecules including immunoglobulins. Present evidence suggests that, though sow colostrum can on occasion stimulate such transport, it does so merely by acting as a protein-containing solution to increase the amount of endocytosis taking place.