CARBOHYDRATE HISTOCHEMISTRY OF SKIN GLANDS IN THE TURKISH ANGORA-GOAT

The skin glands of the general body surface of the Turkish Angora goat were studied by means of selected carbohydrate histochemical methods, in particular several PO-lectin procedures. Both gland types exhibite d intensive secretion production, irrespective of season and body regi on. The different histochemical staining procedures demonstrated that glycoconjugates, especially neutral glycoproteins are present in the s ecretory cells and secretion products of the apocrine glands. The pero xidase (PO)-lectin-procedures indicated the following saccharide resid ues: alpha-D-mannose, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine, alpha-D-glucose, N- acetyl-D-galactosamine, beta-D-galactose, alpha-D-galactose, and alpha -fucose, including small amounts of N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glyc olylneuraminic acid. Relatively large amounts of glycoconjugates, prob ably also glycolipids, were found in the peripheral cells and the sebu m of the sebaceous glands, exhibiting the following saccharide residue s: N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, alpha-fucose, N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The results obtained are discussed as rela ted to findings from corresponding studies in other mammalian species. The secretory substances present obviously create a clearly alkaline pH milieu within the fleece of the Angora goat. Such conditions are al so known to exist, for example, in the Merino sheep fleece.