Goblet cell mucin in human foetal colon, its composition and susceptibility to enzyme degradation: a histochemical...

This work is part of an investigation into G. I. mucin susceptibility to enzyme degradation in normal and disease states. Formalin-fixed/paraffin embedded foetal (14-23 weeks) and neonatal colonic tissue was stained for mucins (neutral, N- and O-acylated sialomucins and sulphomucins) and PNA, UEA1, and Limax flavus. Enzymes tested: neuraminidases, alpha- and beta-galactosidase (E. coli and B. testis), beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, alpha-fucosidase, single or in sequence, with and without prior neuraminidase treatment and followed by the stains. Acid mucins predominate throughout foetal life, sulphation occurs at 14 weeks and O-acylated sialomucins at 23 weeks. PNA and UEA1 are seen in traces or not detected. The mucin profile at birth is similar to the adult. Colonic mucins are susceptible to neuraminidase which abolishes Limax staining. The glycosidases effect on PNA is seen only with prior neuraminidase treatment and is particularly marked with beta-Gal(BT) in Neu----beta-Gal----beta-N-AcetylGlc than with beta-Gal (EC). Fucosidase with prior neuraminidase treatment has effect on UEA1 (decreases) and PNA (increases) affinities. Neuraminidase is essential as a first step in the process and by using beta-galactosidases EC and BT it was possible to show different PNA binding affinities. Preliminary data demonstrate the feasibility of this histochemical approach to the study of colonic mucins and forms the basis for further studies in the adult.