Codistribution of lectin reactive glycoderivatives and PA-TCH-SP positive sites in rat oviduct

Specimens from rat ampulla and isthmus were stained with a battery of 10 lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates and lectin binding patterns were correlated with the distribution of periodate-reactive vicinal diol groups as determined by the PA-TCH-SP (periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate) sequence. The free surface of ciliated and non-ciliated cells was stained moderately to intensely by all lectins and PA-TCH-SP sequence. Binding sites for WGA, UEA I, LTA, Con A were also detected on the tight junctional regions. Secretory granules reacted with all stainings, except for LPA. The localization of certain sugars (sialic acid, fucose) appeared useful for understanding the functional meaning of positive sites.