Disappearance of immunoreactive glycinin and beta-conglycinin in the digestive tract of piglets

Arch Anim Nutr. 2008 Aug;62(4):322-30. doi: 10.1080/17450390802190318.

Abstract

Soybean allergy represents a health threat to human and animals. Glycinin and beta-conglycinin, the main storage proteins in soybean, have been identified as major food/ feed allergens. The present study was conducted to investigate the disappearance of immunoreactive glycinin and beta-conglycinin in the digestive processes of piglets. Twelve crossbred piglets, weaned at 21 days of age, were allocated to three dietary treatments in a complete block design, each treatment with four replicates (female/male = 1:1). From day 22-28, the control group was fed diets without leguminous products, while the two treatment groups received diets containing 2.2% purified glycinin or beta-conglycinin. All piglets were slaughtered at 29 days of age and digesta was sampled from stomach, middle jejunum, caecum and colon. Results indicated that immunoreactive glycinin and beta-conglycinin decreased as the digesta descended down the digestive tract to 0.12% and 0.47%, respectively. Little immunoreactive glycinin was found in the digesta of caecum and colon, while immunoreactive beta-conglycinin was detected in the colon. Along the whole digestive tract the disappearance of immunoreactive glycinin was significantly higher than beta-conglycinin (p < 0.05).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed*
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Antigens, Plant
  • Cecum / metabolism
  • Colon / metabolism
  • Digestion*
  • Female
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Globulins / metabolism*
  • Jejunum / metabolism
  • Male
  • Random Allocation
  • Seed Storage Proteins
  • Soybean Proteins / metabolism*
  • Swine / metabolism*
  • Weaning

Substances

  • Antigens, Plant
  • Globulins
  • Seed Storage Proteins
  • Soybean Proteins
  • beta-conglycinin protein, Glycine max
  • glycinin