HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDY OF GLYCOCONJUGATES IN THE EPIDIDYMIS OF THE HAMSTER (MESOCRICETUS-AURATUS)

The glycoconjugates of hamster epididymis were investigated with conve ntional and lectin histochemistry. A zone of the caput epididymis, wit h particular histochemical characteristics, has been differentiated. b eta-Elimination in combination with lectins was used to establish the presence and distribution of N- and O-linked glycoconjugates. The epit helium, spermatozoa and the intertubular matrix were rich in glycoconj ugates. The Golgi apparatus and stereocilia of the principal cells wer e intensely positive with HPA, PNA and SEA lectins. beta-Elimination i ndicated that these cells contained abundant O-linked glycoconjugates. Apical and clear cells presented a common lectin affinity; their reac tivities towards WGA and UEA-I were very positive. These cells probabl y contain abundant N-glycoconjugates. The spermatozoa were stained by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and by all the lectins (especially in the a crosome), except by those with an affinity for alpha-L-fucosyl residue s; the most intense reaction was found with HPA, WGA, PNA and SBA. Cha nges in the sperm lectin binding along the ductus were observed: sperm flagellum abruptly acquired WGA and PNA labelling from the posterior caput, and HPA reactivity was negative only in the zone between the ca put and the corpus.