Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) are a prominent characteristic of granulomatous inflammation including tuberculosis. The present study was performed to investigate the characteristics and distribution pattern of intracellular and cell surface glycoconjugates of the MGCs in human pulmonary tubercles using lectin histochemistry. The cytoplasmic staining patterns could be divided into three groups. First, VVL, LCA and SBA showed intense reactivity in the great majority of the MGCs. Second, BS -I, DBA, WGA, PNA, ECL, PHA -L and PHA -E also showed positive staining in the cytoplasm of many MGCs, but the reaction patterns were not uniform. Third, the other group (BS -I - B4 and UEA -I) exhibited very weak or no staining in the cytoplasm. With regard to the membranous staining, the lectin binding patterns could be divided into two groups. First, WGA, ECL, PHA -L & PHA -E showed intense membranous staining. Second, the other lectins (BS -I, BS -I -B4, DBA, VVL, LCA, PNA, SBA and UEA -I) did not show any membranous staining. There was no significant difference in lectin binding patterns between the two types of MGCs. Our results demonstrated the characterization of glycoconjugates expressed in the MGCs in human pulmonary tubercles.
Cytoplasm ; Giant Cells* ; Glycoconjugates* ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Lectins ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

To investigate changes of glycoconjugates (GC) on the duodenal mucosa of Korean chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus) after cold-treatment, chipmunks were maintained in cold conditions (6 C) for 3, 5 or 9 months in an attempt to mimic conditions occurring during seasonal hibernation. Most chipmunks were active as before until 3 months in the cold room and since then were hibernated. Although there was significant decrease in neutral GC in cold-treated chipmunks compared with warm chipmunks, acid GC changed little. As for histochemical properties of acid GC in the duodenum, the cold-treated chipmunk showed some differences, such as appearance of villus goblet cells which contained the mixture of sulfated and nonsulfated GC. The affinities for all lectins used in this study were shown in the columnar cells of the duodenal villus and crypt, more intensive DBA, SBA, PNA, BSL-1, RCA-1 and sWGA affinities were demonstrated in the Golgi zone of columnar cells. These affinities decreased in the cold-treated groups, especially in the Golgi zone of columnar cells. The affinities with DBA, RCA-1, sWGA and BSL-1 was demonstrated in the goblet cells of the duodenum, but these affinities except DBA decreased in the cold-treated chipmunks. All lectin affinities except UEA-1 detected in duodenal gland, but cold-treatment induced a decrease of these affinities. The changes in amount and properties of GC in the present experimental model for hibernation may be due to the different intestinal environment associated with food intake. However, the present experimental model for hibernation, especially 9 months cold-treated chipmunks, stills need to be demonstrated during seasonal hibernation in the wild.
Duodenum ; Eating ; Glycoconjugates* ; Goblet Cells ; Hibernation ; Lectins ; Models, Theoretical ; Mucous Membrane* ; Sciuridae* ; Seasons

The effect of NDMA after oral administration (17 mg/ml) on the glycoconjugates of lingual von Ebner's gland and mucous gland were investigated with lectin histochemical methods. For lectin histochemical studies, the biotinylated lectins (DBA, PNA, SBA, BSL -1, sWGA, RCA -1, LCA, UEA -1, and ConA) were applied. Lectin binding patterns of glycoconjugates of lingual von Ebner's gland showed the decreased affinity for DBA, PNA, BSL -1 and sWGA in NDMA -treated group compared with control group. The remarkable decrease of binding affinity of NDMA -treated group was observed in PNA for 12 and 24 hours, DBA for 96 hours, BSL -1 for 72 hours, and sWGA for 3 hours, while the striking decrease of BSL -1 and sWGA binding was observed in NDMA -treated group for 12 hours. But these decreases of binding were tended to recover in PNA and sWGA after 72 hours of NDMA treatment, and in DBA after 120 hours. The binding affinity of SBA and RCA -1 was decreased in NDMA -treated group for 3 hours, while the other NDMA -treated group showed an increased affinity. Especially, the increase of SBA binding was remarkable. There was a little change in binding affinity of UEA -1, LCA and Con A in NDMA -treated group. Lectin binding patterns of glycoconjugates of lingual mucous gland showed decreased affinities for SBA, sWGA and UEA -1 in NDMA -treated group. The striking decreases of binding affinity for NDMA -treated group was observed in SBA and sWGA for 3 hours, and UEA -1 for 3 and 24 hours. And the remarkable decreases of binding affinity for NDMA -treated group was found in SBA for 24 and 48 hours, sWGA for 48, 72 and 96 hours, and UEA -1 for 48 hours. These decreases of binding affinity of NDMA -treated group were tended to recover in SBA and UEA -1 after 96 hours and in sWGA after 120 hours. The binding affinity for PNA and ConA showed a little but not remarkable increase in NDMA - treated group, and LCA binding showed a little decrease following a little increase in NDMA - treated group. The affinity of DBA binding was decreased in NDMA -treated group for 12 hours and 24 hours, while the other NDMA -treated group showed an increased affinity. Especially, there was a remarkable increase in NDMA -treated group for 96 hours. From these results, it is suggested that the toxicity of NDMA may be related with the carcinogen of the rat tongue, and glycoconjugates are concerned with the repaire of the destruction of the lingual mucous acini.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Dimethylnitrosamine* ; Glycoconjugates* ; Lectins ; Rats* ; Salivary Glands* ; Strikes, Employee ; Tongue ; von Ebner Glands

The developmental changes of the lingual salivary glands in the postnatal rats were examined by morphological and prelectin histochemical methods. For the morphological changes, H -E and PAS staining were used. The mucosubstances stained with PAS, AB pH 2.5, AB pH 1.0 and AF pH 1.7 -AB pH 2.5. The promodia and undifferentiated acini of the lingual glands were detected the mucous glands at o day suckling rat, the von Ebner 's glands at 3 day suckling rat, respectively. The differentiation and maturation of the lingual glands were appeared rapidly than that of the von Ebner 's gland, and that of both glands were occurred remarkably suckling periods more than weaning periods. von Ebner 's gland contained only neutral mucins during postnatal developmental rat. The undifferentiated serous acini of these gland contained a small amounts of neutral mucins from 3 day suckling rat, and the amounts of these mucins were increased continuously according to the differentiation of these glands. The amounts of these mucins predominated at weaning periods more than suckling periods. The lingual mucous glands contained the mixture of neutral and acid mucins, and the amounts of these mucins were tended continuously to increase according to the glandular differentiation. In these glands, the suckling periods were predominant with neutral mucins, but weaning periods were abundant in acid mucins. The differentiated mucous acini of the lingual gland contained large amounts of neutral mucins and small to moderate amounts of acid mucins from 0 day suckling rat, but the undifferentiated mucous acini contained small to moderate amounts of neutral mucins and trace amounts or none of acid mucins in the suckling rat. The amounts of sulfomucin and sialomucin of the differentiated mucous acini was increased in both suckling and weaning periods. The increase of these mucins was markable in weaning periods than suckling periods. The amount of sialomucin was abundant at 0 day suckling rat, but the amount of sulfomucin very increased after 3 day suckling rat, and these mucins strikingly increased after 2 weeks suckling rat.
Animals ; Glycoconjugates* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mucins ; Rats* ; Salivary Glands* ; Sialomucins ; Weaning

To localize glycoconjugates of surface mucous cells, mucous neck cells and chief cells in the developing rat, nine of biotinylated lectin(SBA, DBA, PNA, BSL-1, RCA-1, sWGA, UEA-1, Con A and LCA) were applied with ABC method. In the surface and gastric pit epithelium of body of the stomach, DBA affinity was not demonstrated. Although Con A and LCA affinity were slightly increased after birth, these affinities with RCA-1 and sWGA maintained constantly from fetal to adult rat. And UEA-1 affinity gradually increased from the end of suckling period. BSL-1 and PNA affinity showed a tendency to decrease and was not observed in most cells from the suckling and weanling period respectively. In the gastric gland proper, mucous neck cells and chief cells were not distinguished until the early weanling period. All affinities examined except DBA and BSL-1 were observed and increased in the gland of postnatal rat. With the approach of weanling period, more intense affinity for PNA, RCA-1, sWGA and UEA-1 were found on lower portion of the gastric gland proper and more intense affinity for SBA on upper portion. The mucous neck cells showed a similar affinities as gastric gland proper from the weanling period and two affinities for PNA and Con A were detected in the chief cell.
Adult ; Animals ; Epithelium ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Glycoconjugates ; Humans ; Neck* ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Stomach

The developmental changes of the lingual salivary glands in the postnatal rats were examined by lectin histochemical methods. For the morphological changes, H-E and PAS staining were used. The biotinylated lectins used in the study were DBA, SBA, PNA, BSL-1, sWGA, RCA-1, UEA-1, Con A and LCA. The promordia and undifferentiated acini of the lingual glands were found in the mucous glands at 0 day suckling rat and the von Ebner's glands at 3 day suckling rat, respectively. The differentiation and maturation of the lingual glands were faster than those of the von Ebner's gland. The differentiation and proliferation of both glands were occurred remarkably at suckling periods rather than weaning periods. The lectin binding pattern of glandular promordia and undifferentiated serous acini in von Ebner's gland was weak in BSL-1 and weak to moderate in RCA-1. DBA and sWGA showed tendency to increase in 1 week suckling rat, but The binding reactivity of other lectins was disappeared except BSL-1 that was reacted tracely in 2 and 3 weak suckling and 4 week weaning rat. RCA-1, PNA, sWGA, BSL-1 and SBA of the differentiated serous acini were appeared in the 2 week suckling rat and SBA and sWGA was more intense. Especially, the reactivity of these lectins of suckling periods was showed more tendency to increase than that of weaning periods. The increase of PNA, SBA and BSL-1 was prominent during suckling and weaning periods. RCA-1 and sWGA were decreased in 5 week rat, increased in 6 week rat, and then decreased in adult rat. UEA-1 which was not shown from 0 day to 2 week was showed trace to moderate reactivity in some serous acini. Con A and PNA of glandular promordia and undifferentiated mucous acini were appeared trace or weak, and absent at 0 day suckling rat, but PNA reactivity was showed tendency to incerase at 3 day suckling rat. Other lectins of these promordia and acini were not showed reactivity. In the differentiated mucous acini at 0 day suckling rat, all mucous acini were weak to moderate with DBA, and some of mucous acini also were weak to moderate with BSL-1. Most mucous acini showed weak reactivity with SBA, but some mucous acini showed trace or weak reactivity with RCA, PNA, sWGA and BSL-1. The reactivity of BSL-1 and sWGA was increased from birth to 2 week and then decreased, and absent at 5 week. But it increased at 6 week. RCA-1 and PNA also increased in the acini up to 1 week. However, PNA reactivity was absent at 5 and 6 week. With RCA-1, the intensity of reactivity was increased. Differentiated mucous acini was reacted to increase with SBA from birth, the intensity was strong in weaning periods rather than suckling period. UEA-1 reactivity was showed to decrease from 1 week to 2 week and moderately increased from 3 week to 5 week, and thereafter decreased. DBA binding pattern was somewhat changed throughout the observation periods but it was predominent.
Adult ; Animals ; Glycoconjugates* ; Humans ; Lectins ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Salivary Glands* ; von Ebner Glands ; Weaning

Histochemical patterns of lectin binding during development of the rat vomeronasal organ (VNO) were studied to determine whether glycoconjugates are differently expressed after birth. Three types of lectins, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I), were studied histochemically in the rat VNO at various stages post-birth: postnatal days 1 and 7, the preweaning period (4 weeks after birth), and at sexual maturity (8 weeks after birth). The free border of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium was positive for both WGA and UEA-I in rats of all ages; whereas, VNO receptor cells and supporting cells were positive only for both WGA and UEA-I from 4 weeks after birth. DBA reactivity was detected in the free border but less so in receptor cells and supporting cells. WGA and UEA-I, but not DBA, showed similar patterns in various ages. In the Jacobson's gland, WGA, UEA-I and DBA were detected in some acini from 4 weeks after birth but not at postnatal days 1 or 7. Collectively, reactivity for three lectins, WGA, UEA-I and DBA, increased in receptor cells and gland acini during postnatal development, possibly contributing to the enhanced chemoreception in rats.
Animals ; Dolichos ; Epithelium ; Glycoconjugates ; Lectins ; Parturition ; Plant Lectins ; Rats ; Triticum ; Ulex ; Vomeronasal Organ

The present study is designed to study the light and electron microscopic structure of the rat vaginal epithelium during pregnancy. Furthermore, lectin histochemistry is used to know the changes of the terminal sugar of the glycoconjugate in the vaginal epithelium during pregnancy. The 0 day of pregnacy is defined as the day of presence of sperm in a vaginal smear. At 0 day of pregnancy, most of cells are flat in morphology except basal cell. Lightly-stained superficial cells had few cell organelles, and all the other cells had many intermediate filament bundles, microvilli-like processes and desmosomes. During pregnancy, the thickness of the vaginal epithelium was increased. The morphology of the mucous cells are changed from a cuboidal shape to a columnar one. The intermediate filament bundles are decreased in the mucous cell after first week of pregnancy. Lectin histochemistry showed the presence of alpha-L-fucose, alpha-D-galactose, beta(1, 4)-N-acetylglucosamine, alpha-D-N-acetylgalactosamine and galactosyl-beta(1, 4)-N-acetylglucosamine in the mucous cells. The basal cells also contained the same terminal sugars except galactosyl-beta(1, 4)-N-acetylglucosamine. Approaching to the birthday, the thickening of the mucous layer of the vaginal epithelium suggests that the mucous containing several glycoconjugates may play an important role to make the appropriate environment in the vaginal lumen during pregnancy and parturition.
Animals ; Carbohydrates ; Desmosomes ; Epithelium* ; Glycoconjugates ; Intermediate Filaments ; Organelles ; Parturition ; Pregnancy* ; Rats* ; Spermatozoa ; Vaginal Smears

Estrous cycle -related histological and histochemical changes in the vaginal epithelium of mature female rats were studied with PAS (periodic acid Schiff) alcian blue pH 2.5 and biotinylated lectins (DBA, SBA, PNA, BSL -1, sWGA, UEA -1, RCA -1, Con A and LCA).The prominent characteristic changes that occured during the estrous cycle were mucinous transformation in proestrus and cornification in estrus. In proestrus, the superficial mucinous cells of the epithelium were increased in number and enlarged in size, and the amount of acid and neutral mucosubstances was more increase in proestrus than in diestrus and metestrus. About the binding pattern of all lectins examined to the superficial mucinous cells, in diestrus, the binding pattern of these cells showed a similar affinity as in metestrus with intense DBA and UEA -1 reactivity. In proestrus, however, these cells were reactive with seven lectins examined except LCA and PNA, and DBA, SBA, BSL -1, RCA -1 and UEA -1 reacted more strongly than in diestrus and metestrus. In estrus, the superficial cornified cell layers showed a weak reactivity of SBA, BSL -1 and PNA. In diestrus and metestrus, the mucinous cells in the intermediate layers of the basal portion of vaginal fold stained with eight lectins examined except LCA and showed the same binding pattern to the superficial mucinous cells. About the distribution of glycoconjugates in the intermediate layer, the upper spindle cells showed different binding pattern according to the estrous stages. In diestrus, estrus, and metestrus, these cells showed a affinity for all lectins examined. In proestrus, however, DBA and PNA staining were not observed, and stained more intensely with sWGA, SBA and UEA -1, and less intensely with BSL -1 and RCA - 1. In estrus, DBA and PNA reactivity reappeared as trace, and RCA -1 and sWGA reactivity increased. In metestrus, sWGA reactivity reduced and BSL -1 and UEA -1 increased continually. The lower rounded cells of the intermediate layers stained with all lectins examined in estrus, with six lectins examined except Con A, DBA and UEA -1 in proestrus and with five lectins examined except DBA, UEA -1, sWGA and BSL -1 in diestrus and metestrus. BSL -1 reactivity for the layers increased in proestrus, estrus and metestrus, and PNA reactivity increased in estrus and reduced in metestrus. The basal layer of the vaginal epithelium showed different binding pattern to the different portion of vagina, and showed faint staining of BSL -1, SBA and RCA -1, and moderately staining of BSL -1 in proestrus and estrus. In conclusion, alpha /-N -acetyl -D -galactosamine, alpha /-D -galactose and alpha -L -fucose participate in the mucinous transformation of the vaginal epithelium, and beta -N -acetyl -D -glucosamine participates in the cornification of the vaginal epithelium.
Alcian Blue ; Animals ; Diestrus ; Epithelium* ; Estrous Cycle* ; Estrus ; Female ; Glycoconjugates ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lectins ; Metestrus ; Mucins ; Proestrus ; Rats* ; Vagina

BACKGROUND: In the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis, a defective mucosal barrier to luminal antigens is currently under consideration, and alterations in mucin structure and lectin binding may play an important role in the defect of mucosal barrier. It is also, suggested that the differences in clinical manifestation and complication of ulcerative colitis are associated with the change in glycosylation of colonic mucus glycoconjugates. This study was performed in order to investigate the histochemical properties of the mucin in korean ulcerative colitis. METHODS: The histochemical staining (HID-AB, mild PAS, PBT-KOH-PAS) and the binding of lectin (PNA, DBA, UEA-1, RCA-1, WGA, with avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method) to mucin glycoconjugates were analyzed in paraffin-embedded tissue sections obtained from 14 normal colons and 20 ulcerative colitis. RESULTS: In the ulcerative colitis, number of goblet cell and amount of mucin were decreased, but the expression of its sulphomucin was consistently predominant and strong like normal colon. The expression of N-acetylated sialomucin was more common in the ulcerative colitis(80%) than normal colon(50%) and its grading mildly increased in ulcerative colitis. The expression of O-acetylated sialomucin was present in all cases of normal colon and its staining grade decreased in the ulcerative colitis. Compared to normal colonic mucosa, ulcerative colitis showed the increase in PNA and DBA binding in the supranuclear cytoplasm, the decrease in DBA and RCA-1 binding in the goblet cells, and no change in UEA-1 and WGA binding in both. In the ulcerative colitis, the increase in PNA and DBA binding was mild in the supranuclear cytoplasm and the expression of DBA and RCA-1 binding in goblet cells variably decreased. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the changes in the mucosal glycoconjugates between the ulcerative colitis and normal colon. The mucinous glycoconjugate expression of korean ulcerative colitis are different from that of western patients. There may be a genetic, racial variation in the glycoconjugate, which may also play a part in the differences in pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, and complication of ulcerative colitis.
Colitis ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon ; Cytoplasm ; Glycoconjugates ; Glycosylation ; Goblet Cells ; Humans ; Lectins ; Mucins* ; Mucous Membrane* ; Mucus ; Peroxidase ; Phenobarbital ; Sialomucins ; Ulcer*