Light and electron microscopic study of lectin binding sites in human esophageal epithelium
Yamaguchi, Y.; Ito, M.; Saito, S.; Aoyagi, T.; Takata, K.; Hirano, H.
Kaibogaku Zasshi. Journal of Anatomy 60(2): 104-108
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-7722 PMID: 3832749 Document Number: 247257
Distribution of complex carbohydrates in normal human esophageal epithelium was studied by light microscopy and EM using lectins as a probe. For light microscopy, specimens diagnosed as histologically normal were obtained by autopsy from 37 patients without liver diseases or malignant tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Paraffin sections were cut and stained employing biotinylated lectins and ABC method. Lectins used were concanavalin A (ConA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (EA-1). ConA diffusely stained all the layers of the esophageal epithelium. WGA and RCA stained the cell membrane of the cells of all the layers. In some cases, the middle and the superficial layers were strongly stained with WGA, whereas the basal layer was strongly stained with RCA. PNA, SBA and UEA-1 preferentially stained the middle layer. For transmission electron microscopy, specimens obtained by endoscopic biopsy were prefixed, frozen sectioned and incubated with HRP -labeled RCA or SBA. Positive reactions for RCA and SBA were found on the cell membrane, especially along the desmosomes. The cell surface sugar residues apparently change during the course of the cellular differentiation from the basal to the superficial layers in the human esophageal epithelium.