On the structural differences in the membranes between ciliated bronchial and non-ciliated lymphoepithelium in rats

The membrane structure of bronchial ciliated epithelium and lymphoepithelium was studied in rats by lectin histochemistry. The lymphoepithelium, contrary to bronchial ciliated epithelium, did not contain terminal beta-D-galactose residues. Moreover L-fucose and beta-D-Gal (1-3)-D-GalNAc residues, being masked, could be visualized only after enzymatic digestion of terminal sialic acid. These structural differences in membranes provide a basis for the different functions of bronchial lymphoepithelium.