Lectin is a non-immunological glycoprotein and binds specifically to carbohydrate terminals in tissue. Lectin histochemistry using 10 different biotinylated lectins was performed to investigate the effects on thirty-two pigmented rabbit retinas during wound healing. The results are as follows: 1) In normal retina. a) WGA, RCA I, and LCA were bound to the internal limiting membrane. b) WGA, RCA I, LCA, and PNA were bound to the photoreceptor layer. c) WGA, RCA I, LCA, SJA, ConA and BSL I were bound to the basal side of retinal pigment epithelium. d) PNA was bound to cone cell only. e) SBA, DBA, and UEA I didn't bind to any layers of retina. 2) In photocoagulated wound. One day after photocoagulation WGA, LCA and RCA I began to show increased reaction. At 3 and 5 days these lectins sustained reactivity. At 7 days increased reactivity began to decrease or disappear from wound. Macrophages had positive reaction to BSL I, WGA, LCA, and RCA I. In conclusion these results indicate that a-mannose, a glucose, a, beta-galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and N-acetylneuramic acid are present in glycoconjugates of normal rabbit neural retina. It seems that some glycoconjugates may be related to vitreoretinal, retinal and chorioretinal adhesion in normnal retinal, and after argon laser photocoagulation. WGA-binding, LCA-binding and RCA I-binding glycoconjugates may play a part in cell adhesion during early wound healing.
Argon* ; Cell Adhesion ; Glucose ; Glycoconjugates* ; Glycoproteins ; Lectins ; Light Coagulation* ; Macrophages ; Membranes ; Retina* ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; Retinaldehyde ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

No abstract available.
Glycopeptides*

No abstract available.
Gangliosides*

OBJECTIVE: Lectins are cell-agglutinating and sugar specific proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that precipitate glycoconjugates having saccharides of appropriate complementarity. Because of these properties, plant lectins have been used to help characterize the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins in the zona pellucida (ZP) of several mammalian species including pigs. Treatment of oocytes with various lectins blocks sperm binding to the ZP in various mammalian species. This study was undertaken to examine the distribution of sugar residues in the ZP of pig oocytes matured in vitro and the ability of spermatozoa to bind to ZP and in vitro penetration in oocytes treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lectins of Banderiaea simplicifolia (BS-II, bind to beta-D-Nacetylglucosamine), Canavalin ensiformis (Con A, bind to alpha-D-Mannose), Lens culinaris (LCA, bind to alpha-D-Mannose), Ricinus communis (RCA-I, bind to beta-D-Galactose) and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I, bind to alpha-L-Fucose) were examined for spermatozoa penetration, binding capacity to ZP and distribution of lectins. RESULTS: The penetration rates were significantry (p<0.05) higher in control oocytes (63%) than those treated with all lectins, but penetration rates (40~49%) were simililar in group treated with lectins. The incidence of monospermy was similar in oocytes untreated and UEA-I, but it was higher in oocytes treated with BS-II, Con A, RCA-I and LCA. The porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h in TC-199 medium were freed from cumulus cells and treated for 30 min with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled lectins. When examined under fluorescein illumination, higher (p<0.001) proportions of oocytes showed fluorescein of zona pellucida after treatment with Con A (93%), LCA (93%) and RCA-I (100%) than BS-II (37%) and UEA-I (50%). All of the oocytes treated with RCA-I exhibited strong fluorescein in the outer region of the zona pellucida while those treated with LCA exhibited strong fluorescein throughout the zona pellucida. BS-II bounded mainly to the outer region and UEA-I bounded mainly to the inner region of the zona pellucida, with either strong or weak fluorescein. At 120 min after insemination in vitro, fewer spermatozoa were bound to the zona pellucida of the oocytes treated with BS-II, Con-A and RCA-I. Of the lectins, Con A most inhibited sperm binding. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that beta-D-Galactose residues in the porcine zona pellucida may act as primary sperm receptors and inducers of the sperm acrosome reaction and these sugar residues may be involved in the block to polyspermy.
Acrosome Reaction ; Cumulus Cells ; Fluorescein ; Glycoconjugates ; Glycoproteins ; Herpes Zoster* ; Incidence ; Insemination ; Lectins* ; Lens Plant ; Lighting ; Oocytes ; Plant Lectins ; Ricinus ; Sperm-Ovum Interactions ; Spermatozoa ; Swine ; Ulex ; Zona Pellucida*

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*

This study was performed in order to recognize the identifications of the glycoproteins containing oligosaccharides in human gingiva. After made paraffin sections of human gingiva at 4µm, the sections were incubated with 7 lectins (UEA-I, BS-I, SBA, DBA, WGA, PNA, PNA after neuraminidase treated, Con-A). In order to increase specificity of reactions, the sections were applicated with ABC system. And then the sections were incubated with DAB and were counterstained with hematoxylin. Using the same sections, the sections were done H-E and PAS stains. In WGA, DBA and Con-A, plasma membranes of the layers of all epithelium and connective tissue were stained. In BS-I ; In the epithelium of marginal gingiva, plasma membranes of upper layer of the spinous cell layer and granular cell layer were stained. And in epithelium of sulcular gingiva, plasma membranes of the all spinous cell layer and granular cell layer were stained. In SBA ; Plasma membranes of the granular cell layer were stained. In PNA ; In the epithelium of marginal gingiva, plasma membranes of the basal cell layer and lower layer of spinous cell layer were stained. But lectin reactions were not occurred in thc sulcular gingiva. In PNA treated neuraminidase, plasma membranes of the all epithelial layer except basal cell layer membranes especially cytoplasms of upper layer at the sulcular gingiva and connective tissue were reacted. 1. By the above results, authors could know the identification of oligosaccharides existing g1ycoproteins in the human gingiva. 1) All epithelial layer ; α-D-N-Acetyl-Galactosamine, Sialic acid, D-Glucosamine, α-D-Mannose 2) Basal cell layer ; Galactose-β-(1-3)-N-Acetyl-Galactosamine 3) Spinous cell layer ; α-D-Galactose, Galactose-β-(1-3)-N-Acetyl-Galactosamine 4) Granular cell layer ; α-D-Galactose 5) Connective tissue ; α-D-N-Acetyl-Galactosamine, Siallic acid, β-(1-4)-D-Acetyl-Glucosamine, α-D-Glucosamine, α-D-Mannose 2. The Galactose-β-(1-3)-N-Acetyl-Galactosamine was not existed in the basal cell layer and spinous cell layer in the sulcular gingiva.
Cell Membrane ; Classification* ; Coloring Agents ; Connective Tissue ; Cytoplasm ; Dronabinol ; Epithelium ; Gingiva* ; Glycoconjugates ; Glycoproteins ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Lectins ; Membranes ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid ; Neuraminidase ; Oligosaccharides ; Paraffin ; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: We tried to evaluate the incidence and clinical significance of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) with reduced susceptibilities to glycopeptides. In addition, the ability of disk diffusion and Vitek system to detect CoNS with reduced susceptibilities to glycopeptides were compared with the standard agar dilution method. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen clinical isolates of CoNS were recovered at Samsung Medical Center from June to July 1998 and were examined for their susceptibilities to vancomycin and teicoplanin by disk diffusion method (30-microgram disk), Vitek system with GPS-AA card, and agar dilution for the determination of MICs. The records of all patients, from whom CoNS with decreased susceptibility to glycopeptide was isolated, were reviewed. RESULTS: All CoNS showed uniform susceptibility to vancomycin by all three methods but 11 strains (9.2%) exhibited reduced susceptibilities to teicoplanin (MICs, 16 to 32 microgram/mL). All but suspected colonized strains were nosocomially acquired and were isolated from 7 different wards. None were previously treated with teicoplanin. The concordance rates of disk diffusion method and Vitek system with agar dilution method were 94.1% and 84%, respectively. However, the sensitivity of disk diffusion method and Vitek system were only 50.0% and 62.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that CoNS with reduced susceptibilities to glycopeptides is not uncommon and may cause true infections in clinical settings. However, neither disk diffusion method nor Vitek system could differentiate these strains from more susceptible isolates.
Agar ; Colon ; Diffusion ; Glycopeptides* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Teicoplanin ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND: The limit and the optimal method of the cryopreservation of platelets have not been determined. Moreover, the functional changes platelets after cryopreservation were not clearly defined. This study was conducted to determine the limit and optimal method for cryopreservation of platelet concentrates. METHODS: We compared the recovery, expression of membrane GpIb, GpIIb/IIIa, and aggregatory function of the platelets preserved in three different conditions. Platelet samples were collected from four healthy volunteer donors by apheresis, and placed in 22degrees C agitator for standard preservation. For cryopreservation, after treating 5% DMSO, platelets were either inserted directly in -80degrees C freezer or in liquid nitrogen after computer-controlled rate freezing. After storage for 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks, platelets were thawed and analyzed for the evaluation of in vitro functions. RESULTS: Platelets preserved at 22degrees C or cryopreserved with each condition displayed equivalent recovery (90%). With each cryopreservation procedures, platelets showed moderate loss of GpIb and retained more than 90% of GpIIb/IIIa in comparison with fresh platelets. At the third week, loss of GpIb in the directly frozen platelets was augmented compared with those of controlled rate frozen group. The aggregatory response to ristocetin began to decrease drastically after storage for 5 days in platelets frozen by each procedures and to less than 5% at 12 weeks of storage. However, controlled rate frozen platelets retained more aggregatory response to ristocetin and surface GpIb expression than those of directly frozen platelets at 3, 4, 12 weeks of storage. CONCLUSION: This study showed the possibility of moderate preservation of in vitro functions of frozen-thawed platelets after 12 weeks of storage compared with those of the liquid stored 5-day old platelets.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets ; Cryopreservation* ; Dihydroergotamine ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Freezing ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Membranes ; Nitrogen ; Ristocetin ; Tissue Donors

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