1Department of Biopathological Sciences and Hygiene of Animal and Food Production, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
2Department of Environmental Sciences, Via Circonvallazione 93–95, 62024 Matelica (MC), Italy.
Sheep buccal glands consist of mucous acini capped by demilunes. Information on the chemical structure of their secretory glycoconjugates were obtained by means of a battery of peroxidase conjugated lectins with affinity for specific terminal and/or internal sugars. Neuraminidase procedures followed by lectin staining were also used to visualize the carbohydrate sequence. Stored secretions in mucous acinar cells contained glycoconjugates with N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid linked to α,N-acetylgalactosamine and galactosyl (β1→3) N-acetylgalactosamine. Demilunar cells displayed fucose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine and α,N-acetylgalactosamine residues. Cells lining duct system showed a very strong staining at the apical surface and in the cytoplasm with UEA I, LTA and ConA.
Sheep, lectin histochemistry, buccal glands, glycoconjugates