We ourse lves, like a number of other groups, attempted to replicate his findings. Although his method was comparatively simple there were technical difficulties and these attempts were, initially unsuccessful. Later on we switched to a more sophisticated techniqu e and have been able to confirm Reichelt's findings. The quantities of thes e compounds, as found in the urine, are much too large to be of CNS origin. The quantities are such that they can only have been derived from the incomplete breakdown of certain foods.
Proteins consist of long chains of units known as amino-acids.
Normall y proteins are digested by enzymes in the intestines being broken down into these units. It is proposed that these peptides may b e biologically active and could result in the symptoms which we see in autism. The majority of these peptides will be dumped in the urine, which is where Reichelt and we are finding them. A small proportion will cross into the brain and interfere with tra nsmission in such a away that normal activity is altered or disrupted. It may be that these compounds, themselves, have a direct effect upon transmission or that they will attach themselves to the enzymes which would break down our own naturally occurring enzymes.