title: Lectin histochemistry of the mast cell: a light microscopical study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if human mast cell granules contain non-repeating oligosaccharide sequences. The binding of lectins to human mast cell granules was studied using a panel of 11 lectins variously selective for both N- and O-linked oligosaccharide sequences. The tissues were principally derived from cutaneous neurofibromata and benign and malignant breast diseases, that is, readily available human material with a known high content of mast cells. Lectin-binding sites in the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded or resin-embedded material was visualized by means of biotinylated lectins and an avidin-peroxidase technique for light microscopy. The results indicate that human mast cell granules contain abundant N-linked sequences, but few or no O-linked residues. These sequences appear to be mostly in the form of non-bisected highly branched or smaller biantennate sequences, although variable positive binding with erythrophytohaemagglutinin was observed, indicating some degree of bisection.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Pathology, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Stoddart
mesh_terms: D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000032:analysis*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides