title: Development of conjunctival goblet cells and their neuroreceptor subtype expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate expression of muscarinic, cholinergic, and adrenergic receptors on developing conjunctival goblet cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyes were removed from rats 9 to 60 days old, fixed, and used for microscopy. For glycoconjugate expression, sections were stained with Alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiffs reagent (AB/PAS) and with the lectins Ulex europeus agglutinin I (UEA-I) and Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA). Goblet cell bodies were identified using anti-cytokeratin 7 (CK7). Nerve fibers were localized using anti-protein gene product 9.5. Location of muscarinic and adrenergic receptors was investigated using anti-muscarinic and beta-adrenergic receptors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At days 9 and 13, single apical cells in conjunctival epithelium stained with AB/PAS, UEA-I, and CK7. At days 17 and 60, increasing numbers of goblet cells were identified by AB/PAS, UEA-I, HPA, and CK7. Nerve fibers were localized around stratified squamous cells and at the epithelial base at days 9 and 13, and around goblet cells and at the epithelial base at days 17 and 60. At days 9 and 13, M2- and M3-muscarinic and beta2-adrenergic receptors were found in stratified squamous cells, but M1-muscarinic and beta1-adrenergic receptors were not detected. At days 17 and 60, M2- and M3-muscarinic receptors were found in goblet cells, whereas M1-muscarinic receptors were in stratified squamous cells. Beta1- and beta2-adrenergic receptors were found on both cell types. Beta3-adrenergic receptors were not detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conjunctiva, nerves, M2- and M3-muscarinic, and beta1- and beta2-adrenergic receptors are present on developing goblet cells and could regulate secretion as eyelids open.
authors.affiliation: Schepens Eye Research Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. rios@vision.eri.harvard.edu
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Diebold
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lightman
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Zieske
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dartt
mesh_terms: D000423:Alcian Blue; D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000294:innervation; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000378:metabolism; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000378:metabolism; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000145:classification; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000145:classification; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D037102:Lectins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D007633:Keratins; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D000423:Alcian Blue