Evaluation of the development of intestinal function in rats reared on hydrolyzed or native protein-based milk formula.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, hydrolyzed protein has often been used as a protein source in food products, including infant formula. In the current study, the effects of different protein sources in milk formula on the development of intestinal function in artificially reared rats were examined.


METHODS
Rat pups were artificially reared on casein-whey protein-based, whey protein-based, or hydrolyzed whey protein-based milk formula, and the intestinal lactase and maltase activities and the capacity of intestinal immunoglobulin (Ig)G uptake in these rats during the suckling period were determined.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the activities of disaccharidases among the three groups. In the rats reared on hydrolyzed whey protein milk formula, the plasma and jejunal concentrations of human IgG 2 hours after intragastric administration of human IgG were significantly lower than those of rats reared on milk formulas containing native proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that the presence of native protein in milk formula and maternal milk may be important for jejunal IgG uptake in suckling rats and the possibility that the presence or absence of native protein in milk formula can modify some developmental processes of the small intestine in suckling animals.
Kinouchi
T
T
Department of Nutritional Research, Nutrition Science Institute, Meiji Milk Products Company, Odawara, Japan.
Koizumi
K
K
Kuwata
T
T
Yajima
T
T
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008894:Milk Proteins; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase