Enterocytes in the follicle-associated epithelia of rabbit small intestine display distinctive lectin-binding properties.
Glycoconjugate expression in follicle-associated epithelia has been examined by application of a panel of lectins to fixed preparations of rabbit small intestine, including Peyer's patches. Each of the lectins examined (wheat germ agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin I and Bandeiraea simplicifolia agglutinin II) exhibited a lower affinity for the apical surface of the specialised M cells than to columnar enterocytes within the Peyer's patch follicle-associated epithelium. Peanut agglutinin differed from the other lectins examined in that it displayed a markedly higher affinity for enterocytes within the follicle-associated epithelium than the neighbouring villi. This observation reveals that the specialised development of the follicle-associated epithelium involves expression of distinctive surface properties within the enterocyte population in addition to the more widely documented heterogeneous development of enterocytes and the specialised M cells.
Jepson
M A
MA
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Medical School, UK.
Mason
C M
CM
Simmons
N L
NL
Hirst
B H
BH
D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
D037102:Lectins; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate