4. Animals also have blood groups (although their proteins are not the same as h

Question

4. Animals also have blood groups (although their proteins are not the same as humans). Cats can have an A or a B blood type. If a cat has type B blood, it will automatically make A antibodies. Occasionally, newborn kittens will simply die in the first few days of life in a condition known as "fading kitten syndrome." Veterinarians discovered that the problem occurred when type B mothers had type A kittens. Further investigation showed that the antibodies were present in the mother's early milk (colostrum). Speculate on how the antibodies got from the mother's milk into the kittens' bloodstream.

Explanation / Answer

Research studies has shown that epithelium cells of duodenum and jejunum of animals like kitten , calves, rodents express a Fc-gamma-R receptors which are alike human placental receptors which are responsible for tranfer of IgG antibodies from human mothers to foetus.

Research has also shown that secretory antibodies from mother's milk in lower animals like kitten have major role in the immunity of their children.

So, when a A kitten have B mother's milk which have secretory A atibodies which are mainly (IgG) in nature passes to to the dudenum, jejunaum and binds to Fc-gamma-R receptors and transpoted into blood stream.

Now the question is that why these A antibodies did not get hydrolyzed by the kitten's intestinal anzymatic system?

The answer is that,research ahs shown that this phenomenon can only occur if the kitten is feed before 18 hours of age. Because before 18 hours of age, kitten's digestive system does not not develop and it can not hydrolyze any any protein. So, if the kitten feed beofre 18 hours, its intestinal system will not hydrolyze the availabe A antibodies and will be tranported into blood stream via Fc-gamma-R receptors expressed at deodenum and jejunum.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 4
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.