Glycoconjugate composition of ovine parotid glands elucidated by lectins

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the distribution of glycoconjugates found in sheep (Ovis aries) parotid glands by lectin histochemistry. Methods: Following routine histological tissue processing, tissue sections were labelled with the lectins Con-A (Canavalia ensiformis), UEA-I (Ulex europaeus), BSA-I-B₄ (Bandeiraea simplicifolia), PNA (Arachishypogaea), WGA (Triticum vulgaris) and SBA (Glycine max). Results: The results of lectin staining indicated that fitcose sugar was the most abundant sugar on the surface of serous cells, although absence of N-acetylgalactosamine on the serous cells surface. Fucose, N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine were present on the surface of duct cells. All lectins stained with duct epithelial cells in a similar manner - from weak to moderate. Serous cells were labelled with all the lectins, except for PNA, in various degrees. Conclusion: The data obtained from this study can provide new insight into characterizing the glycoconjugate profiles in different species in an effort to be capable of understanding detailed structure and function of parotid gland in both normal- and abnormal states.

Keywords

Ovis aries - parotid gland - lectin histochemistry - glycoconjugate - sheep