title: Functional properties of feline foot pads as studied by lectin histochemical and immunohistochemical methods.
abstract: The localization of sialic acids and antimicrobial substances in the foot pads of the cat was examined by lectin histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The lectin binding patterns of the eccrine glands were suggestive of the existence of large concentrations of sialoglycoconjugates that terminated in Siaalpha2-3Gal1-4GlcNAc. Results were consistent with localization of O-linked (mucin-type) sialoglycoproteins with the Siaalpha2-6Gal/GalNAc sequence in the epidermal layers, especially the stratum spinosum. Additionally, antimicrobial peptides, such as lysozyme, secretory component, lactoferrin, and the peptide group of beta-defensins were demonstrated to be immunolocalised in the eccrine glandular cells. These substances, except for secretory component, were also distributed in the epidermal strata. The sialic acids and antimicrobial substances found in the eccrine glandular secretions and epidermis may play an essential role in the preservation of skin integrity in feline foot pads.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8510, Japan. yasui@brs.nihon-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nara
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Habata
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Azuma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsukise
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D002415:Cats; D004439:Eccrine Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism; D012635:Secretory Component / Q000378:metabolism; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D037102:Lectins; D012635:Secretory Component; D012794:Sialic Acids; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D023083:beta-Defensins; D009113:Muramidase; D007781:Lactoferrin