Glycoconjugate histochemistry in the duodenum of fetal and adult fallow deer

This work aimed to characterize the complex carbohydrates in the duodenum of fetal and adult fallow deer. The proximal parts of the duodenum were removed from the intestine of 12- and 16-week-old fetuses and of adult fallow deer. Sections were assessed by conventional carbohydrate histochemistry combined with glycosidase digestions and treatment with KOH. During development, there was an increase in the acid carboxylated components of the glycoconjugates in goblet cells, while the duodenal glands expressed high quantities of sulphated glycoconjugates at the beginning of development but, in the adult. mainly secreted neutral and carboxylated glycoconjugates containing sialic acid. Sulphated components, probably represented by chondroitin sulphate B-like and heparan sulphate-like glycosaminoglycans may play a role in the morphofunctional differentiation of the duodenum.