The gut walls and gut contents of 27 fetuses were analyzed for the presence of immunoglobulins. Secretory IgA was detected in 16 samples, IgM in 22 samples, IgG in 25 samples, while all three classes were detected in 16 samples. No IgA was found in the meconia of neonates; this suggests a transient synthesis during fetal life. The assumption is made that the fetal environment is antigen‐free and the possibility that early immunoglobulin production may be independent of antigenic stimulation is discussed.
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Petit et al. (1973) studied this question.
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