title: Distribution patterns of carbohydrates in murine glycocalyx.
abstract: Enterocytes are unique cells governing an array of processes. They are covered by the gut glycocalyx, which is an extraneous carbohydrate-rich coat and an integral part of the plasma membrane. The intestinal glycocalyx and secreted mucins constitute a glycosylated milieu which has a number of physiological and protective functions. One of the important functions of the glycocalyx is its barrier function against microbial adherence to different membrane glycolipids. Thus, the glycocalyx is an important part of the mucosal immune system in newborns. The aim of our study was to identify the carbohydrates in the small bowel glycocalyx of Balb/c mice at different ages. We used plant lectins with different sugar specificities. Fluorescein-labelled lectins binding different carbohydrate moieties were detected using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Biotinilated lectins were used for transmission electron microscopy observations of the constituents of the gut glycocalyx at different periods of postnatal development in mice. Different carbohydrate moieties that were identified in the murine intestinal glycocalyx followed different distribution patterns and characteristics. Carbohydrates present on the mucus surface depended on tissue localization, cell type and stage of development. The distribution and mucins glycosylation could be of interest in analysing the response of the mucosal barrier to intestinal pathogens causing infection or inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Morphology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Velichka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pavlova
authors.affiliation: Department of General Microbiology, The Stefan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Tsvetelina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paunova-Krasteva
authors.affiliation: Department of General Microbiology, The Stefan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Stoyanka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoitsova
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Morphology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Sofia , Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nikolova
keywords: carbohydrate moieties; glycocalyx; lectins; microscopy