The development of rat fundic gland was studied by immunohistochemistry usi
ng a recently developed monoclonal antibody, HIK 1083, at both light and el
ectron microscope levels. Antibody HIK 1083 recognized oligosaccharides wit
h a non-reducing terminal alpha-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residue
. In the developing rat fundic gland, cells expressing alpha-GlcNAc residue
s were discernible from day 19.5 of gestation and continued to exist till a
dult. The distribution of the alpha-GlcNAc expressing cells was consistent
with that described previously for cells reacting to Griffonia simplicifoli
a lectin (GSA-II) in all developmental stages. These cells were located at
the bottom of the fundic gland when they first appeared. With the elongatio
n and maturation of the gland, these cells moved upwards and were finally r
estricted in the neck region of the gland. Combining previous reports and t
he present electron microscopical observations, HIK 1083-positive cells in
the adult rat fundic gland are mucous neck cells. The interaction between a
ntibody HIK 1083 and GSA-II lectin was investigated. GSA-II prevented the s
ubsequent binding of HIK 1083, while HIK 1083 did not prevent GSA-II bindin
g to mucous neck cells. Our results suggested that alpha-GlcNAc residues ex
ist in rat fundic gland from day 19.5 of gestation and continue to exist ti
ll adult. Cells expressing alpha-GlcNAc residues appeared as typical mucous
neck cells from postnatal four weeks.