Expression of N-acetylglucosamine residues in developing rat fundic gland cells

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.