Decreased transport of orally administered protein into the blood circulation of developing juveniles of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica
Fisheries
Science: 67(5): 863-869
Abstract:
To
clarify the quantitative changes in the transport of orally intubated
protein into the blood circulation as macromolecules in development,
immunoglobulin Y (IgY) extracted from chicken eggs was administered orally
to juvenile Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. For the first
experiment, which was performed before the commencement of artificial
feeding, the oral delivery of 2.0 µg/0.1 g bodyweight of IgY resulted in a
rapid increase in plasma IgY to a maximum of 2.30 µg/mL. However, the
transport of IgY into the blood decreased significantly in the experiments
that followed, which were performed after 12, 25 and 42 days. During this
period, bodyweight increased approximately by a factor of eight, and rapid
growth of the stomach was observed histologically. Possible contributions
for the development of the alimentary canal to the diminishment of
intestinal protein assimilation are discussed.
(School of Fisheries Sciences, Kitasato University, Sanriku, Iwate 022-0101, Japan, Tel: 81-192-44-1908. Fax: 81-192-44-2125. Email: naosamu@kitasato-u.ac.jp)