FOOD PROTEINS AND MATURATION OF SMALL INTESTINAL MICROVILLUS MEMBRANES (MVM) .3. FOOD PROTEIN-BINDING AND MVM PROTEINS IN RATS FROM NEWBORN TO YOUNG-ADULT AGE

To investigate postnatal maturational profiles of functional and biochemical properties of rat small intestinal microvillus membranes (MVM), we did a longitudinal study in rats from birth to the age of 12 weeks. In parallel, we studied binding of cow’s milk proteins and of the wheat gliadin peptide B 3142, as well as MVM proteins (SDS-PAGE). Changes in MVM fluidity and lipid composition exhibited early (0–4 weeks) and intermediate and late (6–12 weeks) patterns, as has been published earlier. Postnatal changes of food protein and peptide binding occurred early during the observation period, not related to weaning. There was not much further change in binding after 6–8 weeks. Developmental profiles of MVM protein and some lipid changes resembled, but did not equal, changes in food protein binding. We conclude that changes in MVM biochemical composition affect MVM binding characteristics. In particular, high molecular weight MVM proteins (susceptible to trypsin treatment) appear to play a role in postnatal maturational differences in MVM food protein binding. © 1990 Raven Press, Ltd., New York.