Growth response to lectins in chick embryo cells at different stages of development

We report here the effect of Robinia lectin and Concanavalin A on fibroblasts and liver cells from chick embryos between the 8th and the 20th day of development. This was observed in vitro after different times of cultivation. There is evidence that these lectins decrease cell number in cultures from young embryo cells but that they stimulate the proliferation of older embryo cells. The optimum concentration of either lectin was 3 mug/ml. No effect was observed on 12- and 14-day cells at the different concentrations of lectin used. The agglutination of fibroblasts by these lectins regularly decreased from the 8th to the 16th day of development. Liver cells however were agglutinated at no stage. These results could perhaps be explained in terms of cell surface changes either during the course of ontogeny or as a result of lectin treatment.