Peanut lectin: a useful tool for detecting Hodgkin cells in paraffin sections

Using an extended peroxidase-antiperoxidase method receptors fot peanut lectin (PNL) can be visualized in routinely fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections. PNL binding sites are numerous in human tissue. Each tissue, however, displays its specific binding spectrum and cellular binding pattern. 35 cases of Hodgkin's disease containing all histological subtypes were examined. A prominent, constant, and characteristic binding pattern in Hodgkin- and Reed-Sternberg-cells was found. PNL is proposed as an aid for detecting these cells in diagnostic histology. It might turn out to be a very useful reagent particularly in identifying the early lesion in Hodgkin's disease in which Hodgkin cells are small and scarce.