Lectin histochemistry study in the human vas deferens

The oligosaccharide sequences of glycoconjugates in the normal human vas de ferens and the nature of the saccharide linkage were studied by lectin hist ochemistry. The cytoplasm of all epithelial cell types (principal cells, ba sal cells, and mitochondria-rich cells) and luminal contents reacted positi vely with WGA, MAA, PNA, DSA, LTA, UEA-I, AAA, and ConA. The reaction was m ore intense in the stereocilia of principal cells. Cytoplasmic staining was diffuse except for PNA and DSA labeling which was limited to the apical cy toplasm and stereocilia of columnar cells. The cytoplasm of all cell types also reacted diffusely with HPA, although staining was weak and was not obs erved in the stereocilia. Positive reaction with SBA only was encountered i n the stereocilia of principal cells. SNA, LTA, and DBA were unreactive. GN A-labeling showed a granular distribution in the supranuclear cytoplasm of columnar epithelial cells. Reactions with MAA, PNA, DSA, AAA, HPA and SBA d isappeared after the beta-elimination reaction. Reactions with WGA and UEA- I decreased after beta-elimination or Endo-F digestion. Reactions with ConA and GNA were suppressed by Endo-F digestion. Reactions with PNA, HPA, and SBA increased after desialylation. Of all the lectins that label the lumina l contents of the vas deferens, only UEA-I was not found in the luminal con tents of seminiferous tubules and epididymis and, thus, this lectin would p robably bind to glycoproteins secreted by the vas deferens. The chemical tr eatments used suggest that this secretion contains fucose residues located in both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. The other lectins may label secre ted proteins, but also structural proteins or proteins reabsorbed from the luminal fluid. The lectin- binding pattern of mitochondria-rich cells in th e vas deferens differed from that found in the epididymis.