Lectin reactivity in human large bowel

The affinity of six lectins (Arachis hypogaea, Concanavalin A, Bandeiraea simplicifolia I. Dolichus biflorus, Triticum vulgaris and Lotus tetragonolobus) was studied in 10 normal human large intestines. The results showed that each lectin had its own characteristic staining pattern. They differed in their affinity for different cellular components, local distribution within crypts and regional distribution between right (ascending colon) and left (rectum) segments of the large bowel. Arachis hypogaea stained predominantly the supranuclear golgi cisternae and Concanavalin A the cytoplasm. Triticum vulgaris stained preferentially the mucin of the well differentiated cells of the upper crypt while Lotus tetragonolobus characteristically stained the glycocalyx and apical portion of the less differentiated basal cells of the lower crypt. Goblet-cell mucin of the ascending colon had greater affinity for Bandeiraea simplicifolia I and that of the rectum for Triticum vulgaris. Lotus tetragonolobus stained more frequently and extensively the goblet-cell mucin of the upper crypts of the ascending colon than that of the rectum. The goblet cell mucins of the upper crypts were consistently stained in both the right and left segments of the large bowel by Dolichus biflorus while the mucins of the less differentiated cells of the lower crypts were less consistently stained in the ascending colon.