Sialoglycoconjugate expression in acinar cells of rat developing submandibular gland

Direct and indirect staining procedures were developed to characterize sial oglycoconjugates in developing rat submandibular gland. Lectin histochemist ry, with and without prior sialidase digestion, combined with differential oxidation and deacetylation procedures was performed in situ. This allowed the expression of sialic acids to be followed during acinar cell developmen t. It was found that terminal periodate-labile sialic acids linked to beta -galactose occurred early. In contrast, the terminal disaccharide sialic ac id-N-acetylgalactosamine was only detectable at the adult stage and so was considered to be a good marker of the full maturity of this gland. The deve loping acinar cells were mainly characterized by C-4-acetylated sialic acid s belonging to short side-chains. Dimorphic expression of sialoglycoconjuga te components was evident by postnatalbreak day 44.