Testicular lectinhistochemistry in the Sertoli-cell-only-syndrome

Glycoconjugate expression was studied in tissue specimens of the Sertoli-cell-only-syndrome by lectinhistochemistry. Both ConA and WGA marked the cell surface of Sertoli cells fainty. UEA I labelled their nucleoli. PNA and RCA failed to stain Sertoli cells. These staining patterns resembled those of normal human testis. The thickened tubular walls in the Sertoli-cell-only-syndrome were abundant in binding sites for WGA, PNA, UEA I, and RCA. ConA stained the outer part of the wall heavily, but failed to react with the adluminal part. It is suggested, that the Sertoli-cell-only-syndrome is accompanied by a selective loss of mannosyl residues in the adluminal part of thickened tubular walls.