Lectin binding sites in the human gallbladder and cystic duct

A battery of 18 fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled lectins was used to histochemically define the features of epithelial cells in the body, neck and the cystic duct of the human gallbladder. Surface epithelium in all three anatomic locations reacted with all lectins, either diffusely or focally, except for lectin type I from Griffonia simplicifolia and type II from Ulex europaeus. No quantitative differences were noted except for the tendency of some lectins to bind more often to the neck and cystic duct epithelium rather than the body and vice versa. In the body the surface epithelium did not differ from cells lining the crypts. On the other hand, glands of the neck and the cystic duct were essentially indistinguishable one from another but differed from the overlying surface epithelium in so far as they reacted with some lectins which were unreactive with surface epithelium and vice versa. Considerable case to case variation in the expression of lectin binding sites in each of three anatomic areas was noted. No consistent differences were noticed between gallbladders removed for cholecystitis--cholelithiasis and those removed for other incidental reasons. We conclude that all epithelial cells in the cholecysto-biliary tract are rich on glyconjugates but the pattern of expression varies depending on the anatomical location and the influence of poorly understood individual determinants.