IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF ARABINOXYLANS IN THE CELL-WALL OF MAIZE APICAL INTERNODE AFTER MICROBIAL-DEGRADATION IN THE RUMEN

Arabinoxylans were localised by immunocytochemistry using polyclonal a ntibodies in the cell walls of the apical internode of maize after deg radation in the rumen. In order to understand the significance of arab inoxylan in digestibility property, two lines of maize differing in di gestibility were used. Wide variations in the intensity of labelling w ere observed in the four tissues studied (sclerenchyma, fibres, xylem and parenchyma) from the first hours of incubation in the rumen. Incub ation time in the rumen greatly influences the intensity of labelling.