INTESTINAL ANAPHYLAXIS IN RAT AS A MODEL OF FOOD ALLERGY

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24 (2), 352-356
Abstract
An animal model of food allergy was developed in which some aspects of the allergic response could be quantified and the effects of various drugs evaluated. The change in permeability of the intestinal tract of actively sensitized rats, after oral challenge with the sensitizing antigen, was the parameter measured. Rats were sensitized by injection of egg albumin and Bordetella pertussis vaccine to induce reaginic antibody to egg albumin. Two weeks after sensitization, 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA) was injected i.v., followed by oral challenge with egg albumin. Pieces of intestinal tissue were obtained and the amount of 125I-labeled BSA determined in a .gamma.-counter. The amount of 125I-labeled BSA in the intestinal tissue of sensitized and challenged rats regularly showed an increase of greater than 100% above values for control rats.