After the rabbits were slaughtered, the jejunum, ileum and duodenum were placed in 1.5 mL cryopreservation tubes, flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and then preserved at 80 C until analysis. The contents of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-gamma (IFN-c) and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in the jejunum, ileum and duodenum were measured in samples from each group. Five samples were randomly selected from each group, and approximately 1 g tissue was used for each sample. The tissue was homogenised, and then PBS was added to the homogenate at 1:9, then it was serially diluted into five concentrations. Each sample was assayed in duplicate. The tests were carried out according to the instructions of the corresponding kit, and the OD value was determined by absorbance at 450 nm. The contents of IL-4, IFN- c and SIgA were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) (kits provided by Shanghai Hengyuan Biological Co., Ltd. Shanghai, China).