Glycoconjugates in the Chinchilla Tubotympanum

Abstract

Various biotinylated lectins were used to characterize and semiquantitate glycoconjugate residues in the tubotympanum. Epithelial goblet cells were stained predominantly by WGA, LFA, SNA, RCA-I, Con-A, LCA, SBA, PHA-E, and UEA; this finding suggests they contain α-neuraminic acid, β-galactose, α-mannose, N-acetyl α-galactosamine, and α-fucose. Glandular mucous cells were stained predominantly by WGA, LFA, SNA, and RCA-I; this finding suggests that they contain α-neuraminic acid and β-galactose. The glandular serous cells were stained predominantly by Con-A, WGA, and LFA; this finding suggests that they produced α-mannose and α-neuraminic acid that represented serum-type glycoprotein. The positive staining of epithelial goblet cells and glandular mucous cells with PNA after neuraminidase digestion suggests that they produced mucin-type glycoproteins. The staining of the mucous blanket by WGA, LFA, SNA, RCA-I, LCA, PNA, SBA, PHA-E, and UEA suggests the presence of α-neuraminic acid, β-galactose, N-acetyl α-galactosamine, and α-fucose. The epithelial cell (nonsecretory) surface was stained largely by WGA, LFA, SNA, RCA-I, Con-A, and LCA; this finding suggests the presence of α-neuramimic acid, β-galactose, and α-mannose.