Age-related lectin histochemical changes in the porcine small intestine

The carbohydrate histochemistry of normal porcine small intestine from eight one- to four week-old pigs was investigated by the use of twenty one biotinylated-labeled lectins with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Five patterns of staining were seen. First, lectins were reacted with brush borders in enterocytes only, i.e. DBA, LEL, STL and PNA. Second, reactivity of lectins were specific for goblet cells, i.e. PSA. Third, lectins were reacted with both brush borders and goblet cells, i.e. RCA I, BSL II, DSL, WGA, Jacalin, ECL, ConA, LCA, UEA-1, PHA-E and PHA-L. Fourth, lectins were positive for brush borders but binding patterns of goblet cells were variable, i.E. BSL I and VVA. Fifth, the binding patterns were variable for brush borders and goblet cells. The binding patterns for SBA, SJA and s-WGA were variable. DSL bound weakly at first-week old pigs, and as the pigs aged, lectin reactivity on the brush borders of enterocytes as well as goblet cells increased. In contrast, STL, PNA and LEL bound strongly at first- and second-week old pigs, and as the pigs aged, lectin reactivity on the brush borders of ileal enterocytes decreased. Our results suggest the distinct age-region-, and cell types-related changes in epithelial glycocalyx as well as goblet cell mucins in the porcine jejunum and ileum.