CHARACTERIZATION OF MUCUS GLYCOPROTEINS IN THE INTESTINAL-MUCOSA OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT (LOXODONTA-AFRICANA) FOLLOWING LECTIN HISTOCHEMISTRY

The glycoproteins of the small intestines, caecum and colon of three a dult elephants and one recently weaned elephant calf were examined by means of lectin histochemistry. Tissue sections were histochemically s tained with peroxidase-labelled concanavalin A (Con A), asparagus-pea (TPA), peanut (PNA) and wheat-germ (WGA) lectins. Con A and TPA showed no binding activity in the intestinal tract of the adult elephants or the duodenum and ileum of the elephant calf but did show a small amou nt of binding activity in the caecum and colon of the calf, WGA bound very intensely throughout the intestinal tracts of the adults and of t he calf-especially with the goblet cells located in the crypts of Lieb erkuhn and the glands of Brunner-decreasing in intensity towards the l uminal surface of the intestinal tract, PNA stained the glands of Brun ner of the duodenum faintly and the goblet cells of the ileum moderate ly, with no staining of the caecum and faint staining of the colon. Th ese results show the distribution of Con A-, WGA-, PNA- and TPA-bindin g sites, and the changes that take place in the type of glycoprotein s ecreted after a change in the diet of the animal.