Histochemical analysis of rat testicular glycoconjugates. 3. Non-reducing terminal residues in seminiferous tubules

Lectins of Helix pomatia (HPA), Glycine max (SBA), Vicia villosa (VVA), Dolichos biflorus (DBA), Ulex europaeus (UEA-1), Tetragonolobus purpureus (LTA), Griffonia simplicifolia (BSA-1B4), Maclura pomifera (MPA), Sambucus nigra (SNA) and Maackia amurensis (MAA) were used to explore the distribution of saccharides characteristic of non-reducing termini of O- and N-linked glycoprotein glycans in the seminiferous tubules of rat testis. Sialyl residues (both α2,3- and α2,6-linked, as shown by MAA and SNA respectively) and α-l-fucosyl residues (shown by UEA-1 and LTA) were expressed on spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatozoa, but not on spermatids. In contrast, 2-deoxy-2-acetamido-α-d-galactosyl termini were abundant on spermatozoa, but not on any of their precursors (as shown by HPA, SBA and VVA). All occurred on both O- and N-linked glycans. Sertoli cells expressed small amounts of fucose and α2,3-linked sialic acid, and abundant α2,6 sialyl residues, largely on N-glycans. α-Galactosyl residues were readily detected on the tubular basement membrane, but not elsewhere. © 1993 Chapman & Hall.