title: Lectin binding in the ependymal cells of the cephalic portion of the nervous system in the chick embryo.
abstract: The content, distribution and changes of the glycoconjugates oligosaccharides in the ependymal cells of the cephalic portion of the nervous system, in the chick embryo from 5 days of incubation till hatching and in the 3 days old chicken, were investigated. For this purpose a battery of six HRP-conjugated lectins were used (WGA, SBA, UEA I, LTA, PNA, ConA). Enzyme and chemical treatments were performed on some sections prior to staining with HRP-lectins. Our findings showed a large amount of all the investigated sugar residues at the apical portion of the ependymal cells, for the whole considered period of incubation and in the 3 days old chicken. This could indicate that also the immature ependymal cells (spongiobasts) begin to play a tipical role of the mature cells. The presence of cytoplasmic sopranuclear granules, containing D-glucosamine, D-galactose-(beta --> 3)-N-acetil-D-galactosamine and sialic acid in the early stages of incubation, might represent a secretion by the ependymal cells to integrate a not yet fully functioning secretion by the choroid plexuses. At the ciglia a large amount of oligosaccharides were detected in the second part of the period of incubation and in 3 days old chicken. These oligosaccharides could be involved in determining and mantaining the movement of the ciglia to facilitate the flow of the CSF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Italy. gheri@unifi.it
authors.forename: Gherardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gheri
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vichi
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sgambati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004805:Ependyma / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase