Heterogeneous distribution of plasma membrane glycoconjugates in pancreatic acinar cells

Flow-cytometric studies of lectin binding to individual acinar cells have been carried out in order to analyse the distribution of membrane glycoconjugates in cells from different areas of the pancreas: duodenal lobule (head) and splenic lobule (body and tail). The following fluoresceinated lectins were used: wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Tetragonolobus purpureus agglutinin (TP) and concanavalin A (Con A), which specifically bind to N-acetyl D-glucosamine and sialic acid, L-fucose and D-mannose, respectively. In both pancreatic areas, two cell populations (R1 and R2) were identified according to the forward scatter (size). On the basis of their glycoconjugate pattern, R1 cells displayed higher density of WGA and TP receptors than R2 cells throughout the pancreas. Although no difference in size was found between the cells from duodenal and splenic lobules, N-acetyl D-glucosamine and/or sialic acid and L-fucose residues were more abundant in plasma membrane cell glycoconjugates from the duodenal lobule. The results provide evidence for biochemical heterogeneity among individual pancreatic cells according to the distribution of plasma membrane glycoconjugates.