DISTRIBUTION OF CONCANAVALIN-A AND WHEAT-GERM-AGGLUTININ BINDING-SITES IN THE RAT PERIPHERAL-NERVE FIBERS REVEALED BY LECTIN GLYCOPROTEIN-GOLD HISTOCHEMISTRY

The affinity of rat peripheral nerve fibres for concanavalin A (Con A) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) was tested in semi thin sections of E pon-embedded material. A two-step post-embedding technique was used. A s a first step, Con A and WGA were used in pure form. As a second step , peroxidase-gold (for Con A) and ovomucoid-gold (for WGA) complexes w ere applied. The lectin-binding sites, visualized by means of signal a mplification with the photochemical silver reaction, were associated m ainly with the myelin sheaths and the surfaces of Schwann cells.