HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDY OF LECTIN-BINDING IN THE MAJOR SALIVARY-GLANDS OFADULT FALLOW-DEER (DAMA-DAMA L)

The sugar residues in glycoconjugates present in the parotid and mandi bular glands of the adult fallow-deer were detected and characterized by using a battery of eight different lectin-horseradish peroxidase co njugates. In some cases a treatment with sialidase preceded the lectin staining. Parotid secretory cells produced glycoconjugates with N-ace tylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and mannose residues. Mucous aci nar cells were the most reactive sites of the mandibular gland and con tained conspicuous quantities of oligosaccharides with terminal sialic acid radicals. Galactosil-(beta 1 --> 3)N-acetylgalactosamine was the most abundant penultimate sugar linked to N-acetylneuraminic acid. Ma ndibular mucous cells also presented N-acetylglucosamine and sialylate d components with the terminal dimer sialic acid-N-acetylgalactosamine . Demilunar cells contained glycoconjugates with fucose and mannose re sidues. The apical surface of duct cells was stained by all the lectin s.