Chronobiologic blood pressure assessment: maturation of the daily rhythm in newborn foals

Circadian rhythmicity of physiological processes in animals has been described for some variables. In order to investigate the daily rhythmicity of blood pressure, seven foals (Equus caballus) were used for 40 days after birth. Measurements of blood pressure were done by means of an oscillometric apparatus (Argus TM-7, Schiller, Barr Switzerland) with the foals in a standing position and the cuff placed around the tail. Blood pressure was recorded twice a day, 1 hour before dawn and 1 hour before dusk for the first 10 days of life, every 2 days from the 11th to the 32nd day, on the 36th and on the 40th day. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine statistically significant differences between the mean values recorded at dawn and dusk during the study. Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of time (p<0.0001), during the first 40 days of life. This study confirms a strong correlation between age and blood pressure in horse and the absence of blood pressure maturation in foals 40 days old. The results on the maturation of the daily rhythm of blood pressure in foals is a contribution to the study of the development of circadian rhythms in mammals. These results are also useful for the chronophysiological assessment of blood pressure in the horse.     

Response of normal and reperfused livers to glucagon stimulation: NMR detection of blood flow and high-energy phosphates

The effects of glucagon on blood flow and high-energy phosphates in control and in rat livers damaged by ischemia were studied using in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Normal livers and livers which had been made ischemic for 20, 40, and 60 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion were studied. Ischemia led to a loss in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within 30 min. Reperfusion after 20 min of ischemia led to complete recovery of ATP. 60 min of reperfusion after 40 or 60 min of ischemia led to only a 76% and 48% recovery of ATP, respectively. Glucagon, at doses up to 2.5 mg/kg body weight, caused no changes in the inorganic phosphate (Pi) to ATP ratio in normal livers as measured by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. In livers which had been made ischemic for 20, 40, or 60 min, glucagon caused an increase in the Pi/ATP ratio of 18%, 40%, and 40%, respectively. ¹⁹F-NMR detection of the washout of trifluoromethane from liver was used to measure blood flow. Glucagon-stimulated flow in the normal liver in a dose-dependent manner, with 2.5 mg glucagon/kg body weight leading to a 95% increase in flow. Ischemia for 20, 40, and 60 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion led to hepatic blood flows which were 63%, 68%, and 58% lower than control liver. In reperfused livers, blood flow after glucagon-stimulation was reduced to 56%, 43%, and 48% of control glucagon-stimulated flow after 20, 40, and 60 min of ischemia. These results indicate that ischemia followed by reperfusion leads to deceases in hepatic blood flow prior to alterations in ATP and the response of the liver to glucagon is altered in the reperfused liver.     

Breakdown of high-energy phosphate compounds and lactate accumulation during short supramaximal exercise

Muscle ATP, creatine phosphate and lactate, and blood pH and lactate were measured in 7 male sprinters before and after running 40, 60, 80 and 100 m at maximal speed. The sprinters were divided into two groups, group 1 being sprinters who achieved a higher maximal speed (10.07 +/- 0.13 m X s-1) than group 2 (9.75 +/- 0.10 m X s-1), and who also maintained the speed for a longer time. The breakdown of high-energy phosphate stores was significantly greater for group 1 than for group 2 for all distances other than 100 m; the breakdown of creatine phosphate for group 1 was almost the same for 40 m as for 100 m. Muscle and blood lactate began to accumulate during the 40 m exercise. The accumulation of blood lactate was linear (0.55 +/- 0.02 mmol X s-1 X l-1) for all distances, and there were no differences between the groups. With 100 m sprints the end-levels of blood and muscle lactate were not high enough and the change in blood pH was not great enough for one to accept that lactate accumulation is responsible for the decrease in running speed over this distance. We concluded that in short-term maximal exercise, performance depends on the capacity for using high-energy phosphates at the beginning of the exercise, and the decrease in running speed begins when the high-energy phosphate stores are depleted and most of the energy must then be produced by glycolysis.     

Evaluation of a new tail-cuff method for blood pressure measurements in rats with special reference to the effects of ambient temperature

We evaluated a recently developed tail-cuff apparatus for the indirect blood pressure measurement in rats with special reference to the effects of ambient temperature. For this purpose, we designed two preparations 1) an intact preparation to determine the effect of ambient temperature on blood pressure measurements and 2) an anesthetized and catheterized preparation for comparison of the values of blood pressure obtained by the indirect and by the direct method. This apparatus also required enough pulse volume oscillations to measure the accurate value of blood pressure. Sufficient pulse volume oscillations were obtained within 20 min at 30 and 40 degrees C. At 40 degrees C, the values of blood pressure, pulse rate and rectal temperature were significantly higher than those at 30 degrees C. Correlation between blood pressure and rectal temperature was significant, and blood pressure increased with rectal temperature dependently. The values of the indirect measurement were close to the values measured directly, and these correlations were highly significant. Thus, we showed the effects of temperature for indirect blood pressure measurement. This tail-cuff apparatus could measure the accurate value of indirect blood pressure without thermal stress at 30 degrees C.     

Myelomatosis: Comparison of Melphalan and Cyclophosphamide Therapy

Untreated patients suffering from myelomatosis were allocated at random for treatment by the daily oral administration of either cyclophosphamide or melphalan: 141 received cyclophosphamide and 133 melphalan. The trial began on 1 October 1964 and the intake of patients continued until 31 July 1968. The statistical analysis includes follow-up of the surviving patients to 31 May 1970.The most important single factor affecting the prognosis was the blood urea concentration at presentation. The median survival of the 125 patients whose blood urea concentration was less than 40 mg/100 ml was 33 months, compared with 20 months for the 96 patients whose blood urea concentration was 40-79 mg/100 ml and two months for the 55 patients whose blood urea concentration was 80 mg/100 ml or more.The median survival periods of the 114 patients in the cyclophosphamide group and of the 105 in the melphalan group whose blood urea concentration at presentation was less than 80 mg/100 ml were 27 and 23 months respectively. The difference is not statistically significant.     

快速血型定型及交叉配血对创伤出血性休克患者抢救重要性的探讨

摘要 目的：通过对创伤出血性休克患者快速血型定型及交叉配血结果的分析,探讨其对创伤出血性休克患者抢救的重要性。方法：选择2018年2月至2020年2月于我院接受治疗的156例腹部创伤出血性休克患者为研究对象,对入组患者均实施快速血型鉴定及交叉配血,记录血型定型结果与交叉配血结果,对血型定型正反不一致,交叉配血结果不相合的数据进行分析。结果：156例入组患者实施快速血型定型显示有40例存在正反定型不一致,占比为25.64 %（40/156）,其中男性21例,占比52.50 %（21/40）,女性19例,占比47.50 %（19/40）,年龄分布10岁以下占比15.00 %,10~30岁占比37.50 %,31~60岁占比35.00 %,61岁及以上占比12.50 %,不同性别和年龄患者分布不具有统计学意义（P>0.05）;不规则抗体筛查阳性8例,检出率为5.13 %,其中男性2例占比25.00 %,女性6例占比75.00 %,有输血史7例占比87.50 %,无输血史1例占比12.50 %,比较显示女性明显高于男性,有输血史高于无输血史（P<0.05）;进行卡式交叉配血87例,其中有主侧相合而次侧不合2例,主侧不合次侧相合2例,在抢救用血过程中均采用配合性输血原则。156例患者经过快速血型定型及交叉配血,救治成功的有137例,成功率为87.82 %。结论：及时准确的血型定型及交叉配血对创伤出血性休克患者的救治具有重要意义,为创伤患者的输血救治提供有力保障,在临床上值得推广。     

A control system for arterial blood gases

A system was developed to control arterial O2 and CO2 partial pressure (Pao2, and Paco2) simultaneously and independently of each other. The system makes changes in inspired fractional concentration of O2 and CO2 based on values for end-tidal O2 and CO2 partial pressure. The system was applied in 23 normal subjects. In attempts to maintain a Pao2 of 90 Torr and a Paco2 of 40 Torr, arterial blood gases were 91.1 +/- 6.5 (SD) Torr for Pao2 and 41.2 +/- 3.2 Torr for Paco2. In attempts to maintain a Pao2 of 40 Torr and a Paco2 of 40 Torr, arterial blood gases were 40.4 +/- 3.9 Torr for Pao2 and 38.9 +/- 2.5 Torr for Paco2. In attempts to maintain a Pao2 of 90 Torr and a Paco2 of 55 Torr, arterial blood gases were 98.1 +/- 11.5 Torr for Pao2 and 52.8 +/- 3.4 Torr for Paco2. Coefficients of variations ranged from 7.1 to 11.7% for Pao2 and 6.4 to 7.8% for Paco2.     

IL-12 elispot assays to detect and enumerate IL-12 secreting cells

The cytokine IL-12 promotes Th(1)type immune responses and plays a key role in immune regulation. The complex nature of IL-12 hampered its detection without use of stimulants that might give less relevant information. To detect circulating IL-12 p40, we developed enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays that allow enumeration of IL-12 p40 secreting cells without prior in vitro stimulation of the cells. In parallel, intracellular staining of IL-12 p40 by flow cytometry was performed to compare the two methods. IL-12 p40 secreting cells were detected in healthy subjects at a mean number of 103+/-155 per 10(5)blood mononuclear cells (MNC). Numbers of IL-12 p40 secreting blood MNC correlated with IL-12 p40 positive blood MNC detected by flow cytometry. Bacterial endotoxins and the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma control IL-12 production by antigen presenting cells. Utilizing IL-12 p40 ELISPOT assays, we could confirm occurrence of elevated numbers of IL-12 p40 secreting blood MNC after stimulation with TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, LPS, LPS+TNF-alpha or LPS+IFN-gamma, compared to cultures without stimulant. Due to its central role in inflammation and autoimmunity, IL-12 is an attractive target for immunotherapy. IL-12 p40 ELISPOT assays represent a sensitive, specific and reliable tool for investigating the role of IL-12 in both health and disease.     

Airway blood flow response to eucapnic dry air hyperventilation in sheep

Eucapnic hyperventilation, breathing dry air, produces a two- to fivefold increase in airway blood flow in the dog. To determine whether airway blood flow responds similarly in the sheep we studied 16 anesthetized sheep. Seven sheep (1-7) were subjected to two 30-min periods of eucapnic hyperventilation breathing 1) warm humid air [100% relative humidity (rh)] followed by 2) warm dry air [0% rh] at 40 breaths/min. To determine whether there was a dose-response effect on blood flow of increasing levels of hyperventilation of dry air, another nine sheep (8-16) were subjected to four 30-min periods of eucapnic hyperventilation breathing warm humid O2 followed by warm dry O2 at 20 or 40 breaths/min in random sequence. Five minutes before the end of each period of hyperventilation, hemodynamics, blood gases, and tracheal mucosal temperature were measured, and tracheal and bronchial blood flows were determined by injection of 15- or 50-micron-diam radiolabeled microspheres. After the last measurements had been made, all sheep were killed, and the lungs and trachea were removed for determination of blood flow to trachea, bronchi, and parenchyma. In sheep 1-7, warm dry air hyperventilation at 40 breaths/min produced an increase in blood flow to trachea (7.6 +/- 3.5 to 17.0 +/- 6.2 ml/min, P less than 0.05) and bronchi (9.0 +/- 5.4 to 18.2 +/- 8.2 ml/min, P less than 0.05) but not to the parenchyma. When blood flow was compared with the two ventilatory rates (sheep 8-16), tracheal blood flow increased (9.1 +/- 3.3 to 18.2 +/- 6.1 ml/min, P less than 0.05) at a rate of 40 breaths/min but not at 20 breaths/min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Blood Thixotropy in Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia: Role of Haematocrit and Red Blood Cell Rheological Properties

We compared the blood thixotropic/shear-thinning properties and the red blood cells’ (RBC) rheological properties between a group of patients with sickle cell anaemia (SS) and healthy individuals (AA). Blood thixotropy was determined by measuring blood viscosity with a capillary viscometer using a “loop” protocol: the shear rate started at 1 s⁻¹ and increased progressively to 922 s⁻¹ and then re-decreased to the initial shear rate. Measurements were performed at native haematocrit for the two groups and at 25% and 40% haematocrit for the AA and SS individuals, respectively. RBC deformability was determined by ektacytometry and RBC aggregation properties by laser backscatter versus time. AA at native haematocrit had higher blood thixotropic index than SS at native haematocrit and AA at 25% haematocrit. At 40% haematocrit, SS had higher blood thixotropic index than AA. While RBC deformability and aggregation were lower in SS than in AA, the strength of RBC aggregates was higher in the former population. Our results showed that 1) anaemia is the main modulator of blood thixtropy and 2) the low RBC deformability and high RBC aggregates strength cause higher blood thixotropy in SS patients than in AA individuals at 40% haematocrit, which could impact blood flow in certain vascular compartments.     

Ochratoxin A in porcine blood and in consumed feed samples

The aim of the study was to estimate occurrence of ochratoxin A (OA) in feeds and the metabolite residues in porcine blood serum in Poland. Samples were collected in the period from February to May, 1999, in the southern Wielkopolska region. Altogether 40 and 45 samples of feed and porcine blood serum, respectively, were analyzed for OA. Percentage of samples contaminated with OA, both in case of feeds and blood, collected in the winter season was considerably higher than that for the spring season. The percentages for feeds were as follows: 47.6 and 26.3 %, while for porcine serum: 66.7 and 50.0 %, respectively winter and spring. In 25 % of cases ochratoxin A was present in both types of investigated material (feed, blood), whereas in 27.5 % of samples this metabolite was detected in blood only, or in 7.5 % only in the feed. The presence of OA was found neither in the feed nor in the serum in 40 % of all cases. In subgroups (feed, blood) the concentration in the whole collective of positive samples were in the range 0.3–13.5 ng/g and 0.3–69.5 ng/ml, respectively, while median values were 2.3 ng/g and 6.0 ng/ml. Only one feed and three porcine serum samples, were found to be contaminated at concentration levels higher than 10 ng/g or 10 ng/ml.     

2型糖尿病伴发高血压大鼠模型的建立

目的：建立一种2型糖尿病伴发高血压大鼠的模型。方法：65只SD雄性大鼠,随机分为正常对照组、1% NaCl饮水组、20 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组、30 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组、40 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组（n=13）。除正常对照组大鼠普通饮食喂养外,其余各组大鼠以高脂饲料4周+普通饲料结合1% NaCl饮水9周喂养。第4周末链脲霉素（STZ）组大鼠分别腹腔注射STZ （20 mg/kg、30 mg/kg、40 mg/kg）。实验周期13周。检测大鼠一般状况、体重、平均摄食量、血糖、血压、血脂和血浆胰岛素水平。结果：与正常对照组和1% NaCl饮水组比较,在STZ注射后仅30 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组、40 mg/kg STZ-1% NaCl组大鼠体重减少（P<0.05）、平均食量、空腹和随机血糖均增加（P<0.05）;第4周起血压显著升高（P<0.05）,收缩压均值达到150 mmHg进入高血压期,并在其后5周（实验结束前）稳定于150~170 mmHg;第9周血浆胰岛素水平升高（P<0.05）,血浆甘油三酯（TG）水平下降（P<0.05）。结论：高脂饲料喂养4周+腹腔注射STZ 30~40 mg/kg结合1% NaCl饮水喂养,能诱导出2型糖尿病伴发高血压的大鼠模型。     

Squirrel monkeys support replication of BK virus more efficiently than simian virus 40: an animal model for human BK virus infection

We performed experiments to test the suitability of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) as an experimental model for BK virus (BKV) and simian virus 40 (SV40) infection. Four squirrel monkeys received intravenous inoculation with BKV Gardner strain, and six squirrel monkeys received intravenous inoculation with SV40 777 strain. Eight of 10 monkeys received immunosuppression therapy, namely, cyclophosphamide subcutaneously either before or both before and after viral inoculation. The presence of viral infection was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR amplification of viral DNA from blood, urine, and 10 tissues. We found that squirrel monkeys were susceptible to infection with BKV, with high viral copy number detected in blood and viral genome detected in all tissues examined. BKV genome was detected in urine from only one monkey, while three monkeys manifested focal interstitial nephritis. BKV T antigen was expressed in renal peritubular capillary endothelial cells. By contrast, SV40 was detected at very low copy numbers in only a few tissues and was not detected in blood. We conclude that the squirrel monkey is a suitable animal for studies of experimental BKV infection and may facilitate studies of viral entry, pathogenesis, and therapy.     

血平板针尖样及云雾状菌落分离与鉴定

采集98份临床标本接种血平板培养,40份生长出针尖样及云雾状菌落。经分离鉴定38株为细菌L型,其中金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphyloeoccusaureus）居首位,占52．1％（20／38）．其返视性与L型平板分离相比较差。但对抗生素的敏感性则无差别。表明血平板可用于分离细菌L型,并保持了传统L型的特性。     

Interaction with damaged vessel wall in vivo in humans induces platelets to express CD40L resulting in endothelial activation with no effect of aspirin intake

Activated platelets express CD40L on their plasma membrane and release the soluble fragment sCD40L. The interaction between platelet surface CD40L and endothelial cell CD40 leads to the activation of endothelium contributing to atherothrombosis. Few studies have directly demonstrated an increased expression of platelet CD40L in conditions of in vivo platelet activation in humans, and no data are available on its relevance for endothelial activation. We aimed to assess whether platelets activated in vivo at a localized site of vascular injury in humans express CD40L and release sCD40L, whether the level of platelet CD40L expression attained in vivo is sufficient to induce endothelial activation, and whether platelet CD40L expression is inhibited by aspirin intake. We used the skin-bleeding-time test as a model to study the interaction between platelets and a damaged vessel wall by measuring CD40L in the blood emerging from a skin wound in vivo in healthy volunteers. In some experiments, shed blood was analyzed before and 1 h after the intake of 500 mg of aspirin. Platelets from the bleeding-time blood express CD40L and release soluble sCD40L, in a time-dependent way. In vivo platelet CD40L expression was mild but sufficient to induce VCAM-1 expression and IL-8 secretion in coincubation experiments with cultured human endothelial cells. Moreover, platelets recovered from the bleeding-time blood activated endothelial cells; an anti-CD40L antibody blocked this effect. On the contrary, the amount of sCD40L released by activated platelets at a localized site of vascular injury did not reach the concentrations required to induce endothelial cell activation. Soluble monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, a marker of endothelium activation, was increased in shed blood and correlated with platelet CD40L expression. Aspirin intake did not inhibit CD40L expression by platelets in vivo. We concluded that CD40L expressed by platelets in vivo in humans upon contact with a damaged vessel wall activates endothelium; aspirin treatment does not inhibit this mechanism.     

CD40 stimulation provides an IFN-gamma-independent and IL-4-dependent differentiation signal directly to human B cells for IgE production.

IgE induction from human cells has generally been considered to be T cell dependent and to require at least two signals: IL-4 stimulation and T cell/B cell interaction. In the present study we report a human system of T cell-independent IgE production from highly purified B cells. When human cells were co-stimulated with a mAb directed against CD40 (mAb G28-5), there was induction of IgE secretion from purified blood and tonsil B cells as well as unfractionated lymphocytes. Anti-CD40 alone failed to induce IgE from blood mononuclear cells or purified B cells. The effect of the combination of anti-CD40 and IL-4 on IgE production was very IgE isotype specific as IgG, IgM, and IgA were not increased. Furthermore, anti-CD40 with IL-5 or PWM did not co-stimulate IgG, IgM, or IgA and in fact strongly inhibited PWM-stimulated IgG, IgM and IgA production from blood or tonsil cells. IgE synthesis induced by anti-CD40 plus IL-4 was IFN-gamma independent as is the in vivo production of IgE in humans; the doses of IFN-gamma that profoundly suppressed IgG synthesis induced by IL-4, or IL-4 plus IL-6, had no inhibitory effect on anti-CD40-induced IgE production. Anti-CD23 and anti-IL-6 also could not block anti-CD40 plus IL-4-induced IgE production, but anti-IL-4 totally blocked their effect. IgE production via CD40 was not due to IL-5, IL-6 or nerve growth factor as none of these synergized with IL-4 to induce IgE synthesis by purified B cells. Finally, we observed that CD40 stimulation alone could enhance IgE production from in vivo-driven IgE-producing cells from patients with very high IgE levels; cells that did not increase IgE production in response to IL-4. Taken together, our data suggest that the signals delivered for IgE production by IL-4 and CD40 stimulation may mimic the pathway for IgE production seen in vivo in human allergic disease.     

清热解毒祛风中药治疗口腔扁平苔癣的临床疗效及对患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的影响观察

目的：探讨养血解毒祛风中药治疗40例口腔扁平苔藓的临床疗效以及其对OLP患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的影响。方法：将80例扁平苔癣患者随机分为中药组40例和西药对照组40例。治疗组采用中药养血解毒祛风法辨证施治,对照组患者以西药治疗,用左旋咪唑50mg／次,3次／d,口服3天停4天一个月。结果：治疗组与对照组统计学上有显著性差异,中药治疗对患者T细胞亚群有很好的调节作用。结论：中药清热解毒祛风治疗口腔扁平苔癣有显著疗效。     

Lead exposure in an "urban" peregrine falcon and its avian prey

Necropsy of a 7-yr-resident peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinis) from Baltimore showed a Pseudomonas infection involving the pharynx as the immediate cause of death. Concentrations of lead in liver and kidney measured 0.74 and 1.40 ppm, respectively. A survey of lead exposure was performed on 40 urban rock doves (Columbia livia). Thirteen additional rock doves were collected from sites removed from lead contamination and served as controls. The mean concentration of lead in the blood of the urban rock doves was 0.96 ppm (range 0.29-17.0 ppm) compared to 0.05 ppm (0.01-0.07 ppm) for control birds. Ninety-eight percent (39/40) of the urban rock doves had elevated concentrations of lead in their blood, while 27% (11/40) had sublethal concentrations. None of the control birds had increased concentrations of lead in their blood. Concentrations of lead in liver and kidney of 13 urban rock doves were 3.48 ppm and 9.53 ppm, respectively, compared to concentrations of 0.43 ppm and 0.50 ppm for four control rock doves. From these data a mean total concentration of lead per rock dove was calculated at 4.60 ppm for urban birds and 0.33 ppm for control birds.     

Differential effects of aging on limb blood flow in humans

Aging appears to attenuate leg blood flow during exercise; in contrast, such data are scant and do not support this contention in the arm. Therefore, to determine whether aging has differing effects on blood flow in the arm and leg, eight young (22 +/- 6 yr) and six old (71 +/- 15 yr) subjects separately performed dynamic knee extensor [0, 3, 6, 9 W; 20, 40, 60% maximal work rate (WRmax)] and handgrip exercise (3, 6, 9 kg at 0.5 Hz; 20, 40, 60% WRmax). Arterial diameter, blood velocity (Doppler ultrasound), and arterial blood pressure (radial tonometry) were measured simultaneously at each of the submaximal workloads. Quadriceps muscle mass was smaller in the old (1.6 +/- 0.1 kg) than the young (2.1 +/- 0.2 kg). When normalized for this difference in muscle mass, resting seated blood flow was similar in young and old subjects (young, 115 +/- 28; old, 114 +/- 39 ml x g(-1) x min(-1)). During exercise, blood flow and vascular conductance were attenuated in the old whether expressed in absolute terms for a given absolute workload or more appropriately expressed as blood flow per unit muscle mass at a given relative exercise intensity (young, 1,523 +/- 329; old, 1,340 +/- 157 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) at 40% WRmax). In contrast, aging did not affect forearm muscle mass or attenuate rest or exercise blood flow or vascular conductance in the arm. In conclusion, aging induces limb-specific alterations in exercise blood flow regulation. These alterations result in reductions in leg blood flow during exercise but do not impact forearm blood flow.     

Absorption, migration and kinetics in peripheral blood of orally administered ovalbumin in a mouse model

Intestinal absorption of food proteins is well known, whereas its physiological significance remains to be investigated. Various amounts (1, 10 and 50 mg) of ovalbumin were orally administered to mice and the blood kinetics were subsequently analyzed by two-site ELISA. The blood ovalbumin concentration consistently reached its maximum (7-90 ng/ml) about 20 min after the oral administration and then gradually decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Only intact (45 kDa) and truncated (40 kDa) ovalbumins were always detected in the blood independently of the administration site, intra-stomach or intra-intestine, while various fragments of the protein were observed in the gastrointestinal lumen after the oral administration. Recognition by a specific monoclonal antibody and an acidic shift of its pI value suggested that the 40-kDa truncated ovalbumin was produced by intracellular limited proteolysis at its C-terminus. Such stable absorption and blood kinetics of undigested ovalbumin in normal mice suggest some sort of physiological significance for the intestinal uptake of intact food proteins.