Diabetic pregnancy. Changes in lectin binding to the surface of rat lung alveolar epithelial cells

The binding of the lectins concanavalin A (Con A) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to the luminal surface of lung alveolar epithelial cells was compared in normal rats and rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes and their offspring. Lung tissue was lavaged, then fixed in situ with 3% glutaraldehyde. Buffer-rinsed slices of lung were incubated in Con A, WGA, or various control media. Lectin binding sites were visualized by the use of the peroxidase method. Normal neonates and those that were the results of diabetic pregnancies showed a hexose-specific Con A and WGA binding pattern qualitatively similar to that of normal and diabetic adults, respectively. In the normal animals, Con A binding sites were masked by sialic acid residues and were removable with alpha-mannosidase after neuraminidase treatment. In the diabetic adults and their offspring, one the other hand, Con A binding sites were readily accessible and were totally removed only by sequential treatment with alpha-mannosidase and alpha-glucosidase. WGA binding was essentially eliminated with neuraminidase in all animals except in the neonates from diabetic pregnancies, where N-acetyl-glucosaminidase was also required. The effects of maternal diabetes were reversible and occurred about Day 7 postpartum in the neonate. The effects were also reversible following insulin replacement in the diabetic adult.