The aim of this research I to determine, at the ultrastructural level, the localization and distribution of individual sugar sugar moieties and terminal sialylated sequences of the secretory products of the mouse SMG of both sexes. We therefore investigated the lectin receptors of control and sialidase-treated sections by a post-embedding approach using horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugates (PNA, DBA, LTA, WGA, Con A), anti-HRP antibody and protein A-gold. Qualitative and quantitative differences occurred in the acinar products of males and females. Sialidase digestion revealed that the acceptor sugar for terminal sialic acids exhibit a different expression in the electron-lucent granules of acinar cells. The occurrence of terminal sialic acid-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine disaccharide was prominent in male acinar cells in contrast to a modest presence in female. In addition, the terminal sequence sialic acid beta-galactose showed a homogeneous location in the male secretory products and a heterogeneous distribution in the paler areas of the electron-lucent granules in females. In agreement with our previous findings by light microscopy and confocal laser microscopy, the lectin-gold data seem to be correlated to a different expression of O- and N-linked oligosaccharides. These results provide further insight into the sexual dimorphism of the mouse SMG, previously though to be restricted to the convoluted granular tubules.
Sex related differences in sialoglycoconjugates in the mouse submandibular gland (SMG) visualized by lectin-gold probes
MARCHETTI, Luigi;
1996-01-01
Abstract
The aim of this research I to determine, at the ultrastructural level, the localization and distribution of individual sugar sugar moieties and terminal sialylated sequences of the secretory products of the mouse SMG of both sexes. We therefore investigated the lectin receptors of control and sialidase-treated sections by a post-embedding approach using horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugates (PNA, DBA, LTA, WGA, Con A), anti-HRP antibody and protein A-gold. Qualitative and quantitative differences occurred in the acinar products of males and females. Sialidase digestion revealed that the acceptor sugar for terminal sialic acids exhibit a different expression in the electron-lucent granules of acinar cells. The occurrence of terminal sialic acid-alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine disaccharide was prominent in male acinar cells in contrast to a modest presence in female. In addition, the terminal sequence sialic acid beta-galactose showed a homogeneous location in the male secretory products and a heterogeneous distribution in the paler areas of the electron-lucent granules in females. In agreement with our previous findings by light microscopy and confocal laser microscopy, the lectin-gold data seem to be correlated to a different expression of O- and N-linked oligosaccharides. These results provide further insight into the sexual dimorphism of the mouse SMG, previously though to be restricted to the convoluted granular tubules.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
