Glycoconjugate sugar residues in the chick embryo developing lung: A lectin histochemical study

✍ Scribed by G. Gheri; E. Sgambati; S. Gheri Bryk

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 410 KB
• Volume: 243
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0362-2525
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4687(200003)243:3<257::aid-jmor3>3.0.co;2-m

✦ Synopsis

A lectin histochemical study was performed to investigate the distribution and changes of the oligosaccharidic component of the glycoconjugates in the lung of chick embryos, of 1-day-old chick, and of the adult animal. For this purpose, a battery of seven horseradish peroxidaseconjugated lectins (PNA, SBA, DBA, WGA, Con A, LTA, and UEA I) were employed. During the first phase of parabronchi and atria formation, D-galactose-(␤133)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, ␤-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-glucosamine, ␣-D-mannose, and sialic acid, present at the level of the surface and of cytoplasmic granules of the lining epithelial cells, seem to play a role in regulating morphogenetic phenomena. In the subsequent phases, the parabronchial lumen and the atrial cavities were characterized by the presence of lectin-reactive material rich in terminal D-galactose-(␤133)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, ␤-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-glucosamine and ␣-D-mannose. From day 18 onwards and immediately after hatching, the free border of the cells lining the air capillaries was characterized by the presence of ␤-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and ␣-D-mannose. The appearance of these sugar residues was concomitant with the beginning of respiratory activity.