Table 1

Intensity of immunostaining of the jejunal crypts and villi from rats fed on diets containing lactalbumin (LA), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), or wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)

Heat shock proteinLectinStaining intensity of the cryptStaining intensity of the villus
HSP70LA PHA WGA++++ ++ +++++ +++ ++
HSP72LA PHA WGA++++ ++ ++++++ + +++
HSP90LA PHA WGA++++ ++ +++++ ++ +

  • The sections of the jejunum were stained with monoclonal antibodies to HSP70, HSP72, and HSP90. The intensity of the immunostaining of PHA and WGA fed rats was matched with the staining intensity of the corresponding LA fed rats. Based on this comparison the intensity of the staining was scored using an arbitrary semiquantitative scale (strong staining ++++, moderate staining +++, weak staining ++, very weak staining +).