Ulex europaeus agglutinin I(UEA I), succinylated wheat germ agglutinin(sWGA), Griffonia simplicifolia lectin-I(GSL-I)을 이용하여 생쥐 부정소 조직내 당쇄의 분포를 조사하였다. 당쇄의 측쇄 말단의 -L-fucose 잔기에 특이적으로 결합하는 UEA I은 체부 및 미부 부정소를 제외한 두부 부정소 선단의 세정관 상피를 강하게 표지하였으나 관강은 중간 정도의 강도로

To characterize the difference in glycoconjugates of mouse epididymis, lectin labeling of the tissue section was conducted using Ulex europaeus agglutinin I(UEA I), succinylated wheat germ agglutinin(sWGA), and Griffonia simplicifolia lectin-I(GSL-I). UEA I which binds to outer -L-fucose residue that is a terminal sugar of the side chain branched from oligosaccharide chain gave the labeling in the proximal caput epithelia exclusively. Lumen was commonly labeled in all of the organ. It suggested that the glycoconjugates bearing outer -L-fucose residue were largely expressed in the initial segments ot epididymis and subjected to secretion. GSL-I which binds to terminal -D-galactosyl residue of glycoconjugates gave the labeling in the cytoplasm of clear cells and basal cells, and cilia in corpus and cauda regions but not in the caput region. There was no vast difference in labeling pattern by sWGA which binds to N-acetyl-glucosamine residue among the epididymal regions. Clear cells in corpus and cauda epithelia showed more intense labeling by sWGA compared to principal cells, suggesting the functional specialization of this type of cells. The labeling intensities of luminal content by UEA I and sWGA decreased in cauda region compared to corpus region suggesting the presence of enzymatic activities responsible for processing the -L-fucose and N-acetyl-glucosamine residues from secreted glycoconjugates. In summary, the difference in glycoconjugates bearing the -L-fucose, -D-galactose, and N-acetyl-glucosamine residues according to the type of epithelial cells and epididymal segments suggests functional specialization and different roles of each segment in the processing of sperm surface antigens during the epididymal transit.

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