Lectins Histochemical Studies in Submandibular Salivary Gland of the House Musk Shrew, Suncus murinus

Abstract

Submandibular glands of male house musk shrew, Suncus murinus, were examined by light microscopic histochemical methods. The staining procedures employed were horseradish peroxidase conjugated lectins, Alcian blue (AB) pH 1.0, AB pH 2.5, Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and AB pH2.5-PAS in combination with enzyme digestion with neuraminidase. The lectins used in the present study were Peanut agglutinin (PNA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Limax flavus agglutinin (LFA), Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I), and Loutus tetragonolobus agglutinin (LTA). The submandibular gland of Suncus murinus is a branched tubuloacinar gland. Its secretory endpiece contains both serous and mucous cells. Granular ducts, modified striated ducts, were found to be well developed. All the mucous acinar cells were colored deep blue with the AB pH 2.5-PAS procedure and were stained strongly with LFA. Neuraminidase digestion changed the deep blue coloration with the AB pH 2.5-PAS procedure to light red and abolished all staining of mucous cells with LFA. Removal of sialic acid with neuraminidase imparted weak to strong affinity for PNA. Serous cells showed strong red coloration with the AB pH2.5-PAS procedure and were reacted strongly with PNA, DBA and WGA.
Granular duct cells exhibited moderate reaction with PAS, LTA and UEA-I.