Lectin histochemistry of goblet cells in metaplastic epithelium of human gallbladder

Goblet cells arising in the intestinal metaplasia of chronically inflamed gallbladder were studied by lectin histochemistry and compared with equivalent cells in the small and large intestine. Overall, metaplastic goblet cells reacted more avidly with the majority of lectins and even expressed receptors for lectins that were unreactive with normal intestinal goblet cells. There was, however, considerable variation in lectin binding from one case to another, as well as among the cells of the same specimen. We thus conclude that metaplastic goblet cells in the gallbladder are different from normal intestinal goblet cells, but do not have a uniform lectin binding profile.