Lectin histochemistry of the mast cell: heterogeneity of rodent and human mast cell populations.
Mast cell granules contain a variety of N-linked saccharides. Heterogeneity of the expression of these saccharides in mast cells was studied in rodent and human tissues which were so selected as to contain all the mast cell subsets previously identified using other criteria. Dermal and intestinal mucosal mast cells were stained with lectins using an avidin-biotin system. It was found that dermal and subepidermal mast cells in the rat and mouse, and mucosal and dermal human mast cells showed very similar lectin binding properties to each other, with a fine variation in the intensity of staining with certain lectins. Rat mucosal mast cells, however, showed a distinctive pattern of lectin binding which was not seen in mast cells from any other tissue studied. The chemical basis of the differences seen were deduced and the possible significance of these structural variations is discussed.
Department of Cell and Structural Biology, University of Manchester Medical School, UK.
I S
IS
Roberts
C J
CJ
Jones
R W
RW
Stoddart
D000423:Alcian Blue; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D010619:Phenazines; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010619:Phenazines; D000423:Alcian Blue; C009195:safranine T