ULTRASTRUCTURAL-LOCALIZATION OF IMMUNOREACTIVE FUCOSYLCERAMIDE IN NORMAL AND ADENOCARCINOMA CELLS

The localization of fucosylceramide recognized by a monoclonal antibod y (MAb), PC47H, was examined immunohistochemically using normal and ca ncerous tissues. Immunoreactive fucosylceramide was observed in pancre as, parathyroid, submandibular gland, placenta, ovary, intestine, kidn ey, heart, plasma cells, adenocarcinomas of various organs and multipl e myeloma, but not in lymphocytes and in squamous cell carcinoma. The immunoreactive fucosylceramide was localized mainly in the rough endop lasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membranes of thes cells. Selective ex pression of fucosylceramide in particular organs and adenocarcinomas m ay reflect a role of fucosylceramide.