Glycoconjugates in the chinchilla tubotympanum

Various biotinylated lectins were used to characterize and semiquantitate glycoconjugate residues in the tubotympanum. Epithelial goblet cells were stained predominantly by WGA, LFA, SNA, RCA-I, Con-A, LCA, SBA, PHA-E, and UEA; this finding suggests they contain α-neuraminic acid, β-galactose, α-mannose, N-acetyl α-galactosamine, and α-fucose. Glandular mucous cells were stained predominantly by WGA, LFA, SNA, and RCA-I; this finding suggests that they contain α-neuraminic acid and β-galactose. The glandular serous cells were stained predominantly by Con-A, WGA, and LFA; this finding suggests that they produced α-mannose and α-neuraminic acid that represented serum-type glycoprotein. The positive staining of epithelial goblet cells and glandular mucous cells with PNA after neuraminidase digestion suggests that they produced mucin-type glycoproteins. The staining of the mucous blanket by WGA, LFA, SNA, RCA-I, LCA, PNA, SBA, PHA-E, and UEA suggests the presence of α-neuraminic acid, β-galactose, N-acetyl α-galactosamine, and α-fucose. The epithelial cell (nonsecretory) surface was stained largely by WGA, LFA, SNA, RCA-I, Con-A, and LCA; this finding suggests the presence of α-neuramimic acid, β-galactose, and α-mannose.