HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDY OF LECTIN-BINDING IN THE HUMAN FETAL MINOR SALIVARY-GLANDS

The emerging synthesis of glycoconjugates containing specific oligosac charides in developing human fetal labial and lingual salivary glands has been investigated by lectin histochemistry. An avidin-biotin techn ique was used to study the binding of lectins from Ulex europeus I (UE A-I), Dolichos biflorus (DBA), Glycine maximus (SBA), Helix pomatia (H PA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA) and Triticum vulgare (WGA) to specific sug ars on sections of tissue from labial glands, glands of Blandin and Nu hn, glands of von Ebner and the dorsoposterior lingual salivary glands . Incipient synthesis of glycoconjugates in early glands and their pre sence in the cells and ducts of the later glands was shown. The study also showed a time-related increase in both staining intensity and bin ding sites of serous acinar cells from all glands and for all lectins used. For mucous cells, peak intensity of staining was reached by the middle phase of development. During later gland development this inten sity was maintained in dorsoposterior lingual glands but tended to dec line in labial glands. The various lectins showed different degrees of binding but UEA-I lectin generally bound the L-fucose sugar group in all salivary glands at all gestational ages. The results showed that l ectins appear to bind to the oligosaccharides on epithelial cell surfa ces of fetal salivary glands at all stages of development. The degree of change depends upon the stage of differentiation and maturation of the glands.