Immediate hypersensitivity reaction to beta-lactoglobulin in the epithelium lining the colon of guinea pigs fed cows' milk.

Isolated epithelia from the colons of guinea pigs fed cows' milk have been studied in vitro under short circuit current conditions. When challenged with beta-lactoglobulin (beta LG) from the basolateral side, a large, transient inward flowing current was recorded. Pharmacological and ion flux measurements indicated this was due to inappropriate chloride secretion. There was no effect of beta LG on normal epithelia. The effects of challenge with beta LG were abolished by pretreatment with indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor. By exposing epithelia from water-drinking animals in vitro to serum from milk-drinking guinea pigs sensitivity to beta LG could be conferred.