[Preliminary findings on lectin binding in human follicular epithelium]

Glycoconjugates in the cell membranes of the outer and the inner root sheath of human anagen hair follicles were histochemically characterized by means of the following lectins: UEA-I, DBA, PNA, WGA, SBA, RCA, and Con A (avidin-biotin technique, counter-staining with methyl green). We observed intense labeling of the outer root sheath with UEA-I, DBA, Con A, and PNA, whereas the other markers were only weakly positive. VEA-I, DBA and SBA labeling was confiried to the upper two thirds of the outer root sheath. As to the inner root sheath, we found intense labeling with UEA-I, WGA, RCA, and SBA; all other lectins were only weakly represented. Our results suggest that the cell membranes of the outer and inner root sheaths of human hair follicles are characterized by the prevalence of different glycoconjugates; moreover, labeling with UEA-I, SBA, and DBA is obviously related to the process of differentiation within the follicle.