Glycoconjugate sugar residues in the chick embryo developing lung: a lectin histochemical study.
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 peroxidase-conjugated lectins (PNA, SBA, DBA, WGA, Con A, LTA, and UEA I) were employed. During the first phase of parabronchi and atria formation, D-galactose-(beta1-->3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, beta-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-glucosamine, alpha-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-(beta1-->3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, beta-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-glucosamine and alpha-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 beta-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and alpha-D-mannose. The appearance of these sugar residues was concomitant with the beginning of respiratory activity.
Gheri
G
G
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Policlinico di Careggi, Florence, Italy. gheri@dada.it
Sgambati
E
E
Bryk
S G
SG
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism
D006001:Glycoconjugates; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides