title: Aspects of glycoconjugate production and lysozyme- and defensins-expression of the ceruminous glands of the horse (Equus przewalskii f. dom.).
abstract: The distribution of complex glycoconjugates and antimicrobial substances in the ceruminous glands of the horse (Equus przewalskii f. dom., type: pony) was studied using carbohydrate histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The epithelial cells and luminal secretion of these glands exhibited considerable amounts of glycoconjugates with various saccharide residues, such as alpha-D-mannose, alpha-L-fucose, beta-D-galactose, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and sialic acid, including O-acetylated sialic acid. Several sugars (alpha-D-mannose, alpha-L-fucose, and beta-D-galactose) were also detectable in the secretion of sebaceous glands present. Additionally, lysozyme and the peptide group of beta-defensins are demonstrated as products of the apocrine ceruminous glands and sebaceous glands. The results obtained are discussed with regard to the functional significance of the glandular secretions. It is suggested that the complex carbohydrates, lysozyme and beta-defensins found in the ceruminous gland secretions are involved in the function of cerumen as a general antimicrobial protective agent in the external auditory canal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Azuma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsukise
authors.forename: Kousuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002571:Cerumen / Q000737:chemistry; D023082:Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D009113:Muramidase