Comparative study on the residual rate of immunoreactive soybean glycinin (11S) in the digestive tract of pigs of different ages

In this study the residual rate of immunoreactive glycinin in the digestive tracts of pigs of different ages was compared. Results showed that the residual rate of immunoreactivity decreased as the glycinin passed down the gastrointestinal tract in all groups (P<0.05). In the stomach, upper-jejunum or middle-jejunum, the residual rate decreased with increasing age of the pigs. In the ileum, the residual rate of immunoreactivity of glycinin in growing pigs or finishing pigs is significantly higher than in weaning piglets (P<0.05), while no significant difference existed between growing pigs and finishing pigs (P>0.05). In the caecum, the residual rate in finishing pigs is significantly higher than in weaning piglets (P<0.05), however, no significant difference existed between weaning piglets and growing pigs or between growing pigs and finishing pigs (P>0.05). It indicated that the immunoreactivity of glycinin generally decreases as it descends into the gastrointestinal tract and with the age of the pig.