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Effect of Ionizing Radiation on the Allergenicity of Milk Protein¹

U. S. Army Medical Research and Nutrition Laboratory, Denver, Colorado

ABSTRACT

The mean contractions on the excised uterine strip from milk-sensitized guinea pigs, produced by a challenge with irradiated milk samples, revealed that a 9.30-megarad sample produced a response which was 85% of that for raw skimmilk. The mean cross-challenge response for this same sample was 19.4%, as compared to a zero cross-challenge response for raw skimmilk. Irradiation of milk samples at lower radiation doses of 2.79 and 5.58 megarads produced much larger initial responses and lower cross-challenge responses, as evidenced by the uterine strip contractions of milk-sensitized guinea pigs challenged in vitro with these samples.

At radiation doses of 0.456, 2.79, 5.58, and 9.30 megarads, the mean lethal shocking doses (l.s.d.₅₀ values) for irradiated milk samples, when challenged on milk-sensitized guinea pigs, were 29 ± 4, 64 ± 11, 602 ± 270, and 1,157 ± 422 µg. of protein nitrogen per 0.5-ml. dose injected. The increase in these l.s.d.₅₀ values reflects extensive molecular alteration in milk protein produced by ionizing radiation.

The significance of the biochemical alteration in food proteins produced by ionizing radiations is discussed, and the clinical importance in the reduction of allergenic properties of protein so treated is implied in these studies.

¹ These studies were supported under Contract No. DA-49-007-MD-549 with the Office of The Surgeon General, Department of the Army, as a collaborative project between this Laboratory and the University of Colorado. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of the Army.

² Present address: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.

³ Present address: College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.