Cell type-specific binding of Ricinus lectin to murine cerebellar cell surfaces in vitro

The binding of several plant lectins, Concanavalin A (Con A), Lens culinaris A (LCA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and Ricinus communis agglutinin 120 (RCA 120) to cell surfaces of developing mouse cerebellar cells was assayed by the use of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated compounds. Freshly dissociated, live single-cell suspensions from 6-day-old mouse cerebellum contain 93% ConA, 99% LCA, 98% WGA, and 59% RCA 120-positive cells with ring fluorescence. Of the RCA 120-positive cells, 4% express a high and 55% a lower or very low number of lectin receptors. Flow cytometric analysis of fluorescent lectin binding yields results qualitatively similar to those obtained by scoring positive and negative cells in the fluorescence microscope. In monolayer cultures of 6-day-old mouse cerebellum practically all cells express receptors for ConA, LCA, and WGA, whereas RCA 120 binding sites are absent from neurons with small cell bodies (granule, basket and stellate cells) and present in large number on neurons with large cell bodies (Purkinje and possibly Golgi Type-II cells) and fibroblasts. RCA 120 receptors are weakly expressed on astro- and oligodendroglia. Cell type-specific expression of RCA 120 receptors is constant throughout all ages studied (embryonic day 13 to postnatal day 9). At early embryonic ages the proportion of highly fluorescent neurons with large cell bodies is significantly increased.