Effects of aldehydes and organic solvents on concanavalin A binding sites in cerebellar tissue sections

Fresh frozen cerebellar sections of adult mice treated with aldehydes and organic solvents reveal differences in detectability of Concanavalin A (Con A) binding sites. While fluorescein coupled Con A shows intense labeling of synaptic glomeruli and granule cell bodies under all conditions, the molecular layer labels intensely after treatment with paraformaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, acetone, ethanol and butanol. Complete loss of staining in molecular and granular layers and substantial increase in white matter labeling occurs after chloroform-methanol treatment. Except for glutaraldehyde treated sections, all labeling is specifically inhibited by methyl-alpha-D-mannoside, but not by galactose.