Maturation of the intestinal epithelial barrier in neonatal rats coincides with decreased FcRn expression, replacement of vacuolated enterocytes and changed Blimp-1 expression
Background: The intestinal barrier is immature in newborn mammals allowing for transfer of bioactive macromolecules, e.g. protecting antibodies, from mother's milk to the blood circulation and in neonatal rodents lasts until weaning. This passage involves the neonatal-Fc-receptor (FcRn) binding IgG in the proximal and highly endocytic vacuolated enterocytes in the distal immature small intestine (