title: Histochemical analyses of glycoconjugates and antimicrobial substances in goat labial glands.
abstract: Saliva is known to protect the oral cavity and contains glycoproteins and antimicrobial substances. The distribution of these salivary secretions was studied in the labial glands of the Japanese miniature (Shiba) goat using lectin histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The mucous acinar cells of the labial glands exhibited glycoconjugates with different saccharide residues, such as GalNAcα1-3GalNAc, Galβ1-4GalNAc, β-D-GlcNAc and sialic acid linked to α2-6Gal/GalNAc. Furthermore, α-D-Man, α-L-Fuc, α-D-GalNAc, β-D-Gal and sialic acid residues were present, in particular, in the serous demilunar cells. Antimicrobial substances (lysozyme, IgA, lactoferrin and β-defensin) were shown to be mainly immunolocalized in the serous demilunes and duct cells. The results obtained are discussed with regard to the functional role of labial glands. The secretory compounds demonstrated may play an important role in the maintenance of oral health with regard to saliva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Habata
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fujimori
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 / Q000032:analysis*; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000032:analysis*; D006041:Goats / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D009113:Muramidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D023083:beta-Defensins; D009113:Muramidase; D007781:Lactoferrin