Lectin histochemical investigations of the distal gut of chicks with special emphasis on the follicle-associated epithelium

TY - JOUR

T1 - Lectin histochemical investigations of the distal gut of chicks with special emphasis on the follicle-associated epithelium

AU - Pohlmeyer, I

AU - Jörns, J

AU - Schumacher, U

AU - Van Damme, E J M

AU - Peumans, W J

AU - Pfüller, U

AU - Neumann, U

PY - 2005/4

Y1 - 2005/4

N2 - Carbohydrates on epithelial cell surfaces play an important role as attachment sites for different microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and protozoa. To obtain more information about the distribution of carbohydrates on the luminal surface along the intestine, lectin histochemical studies on different gut segments of chicks of different age groups were carried out using a panel of 13 lectins with specificities for Man, Glc, Gal, GalNAc, GlcNAc or GlcNAc oligosaccharides and Sia. Furthermore, we tried to find out whether previously reported specificities of certain lectins for M cells (membranous or multifold cells) in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) can be observed also on M cells of the intestine. As a result we were able to demonstrate binding of all lectins employed in these studies in all investigated gut segments. In some cases, the application of the same lectin led to varying staining intensities of the same histological structures in different age-groups (e.g. staining of the brush border with WGA, LEA, MAA or Conarva) or different gut segments (e.g. staining of goblet cells with CMA II, LEA and MPA). Hence, terminal carbohydrate residues of glycoconjugates on the intestinal epithelium vary depending on age and organ site. As glycoconjugates can act as attachment sites for microorganisms, these differences in the distribution of sugar residues may be one explanation for the site-specificity of certain pathogens. Furthermore, the binding of lectins to the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) of the BF differs from that to the FAE of the intestine again stressing the site specificity of lectin binding. Thus, up to now no universal M-cell marker along the chicken intestine exists.

AB - Carbohydrates on epithelial cell surfaces play an important role as attachment sites for different microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and protozoa. To obtain more information about the distribution of carbohydrates on the luminal surface along the intestine, lectin histochemical studies on different gut segments of chicks of different age groups were carried out using a panel of 13 lectins with specificities for Man, Glc, Gal, GalNAc, GlcNAc or GlcNAc oligosaccharides and Sia. Furthermore, we tried to find out whether previously reported specificities of certain lectins for M cells (membranous or multifold cells) in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) can be observed also on M cells of the intestine. As a result we were able to demonstrate binding of all lectins employed in these studies in all investigated gut segments. In some cases, the application of the same lectin led to varying staining intensities of the same histological structures in different age-groups (e.g. staining of the brush border with WGA, LEA, MAA or Conarva) or different gut segments (e.g. staining of goblet cells with CMA II, LEA and MPA). Hence, terminal carbohydrate residues of glycoconjugates on the intestinal epithelium vary depending on age and organ site. As glycoconjugates can act as attachment sites for microorganisms, these differences in the distribution of sugar residues may be one explanation for the site-specificity of certain pathogens. Furthermore, the binding of lectins to the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) of the BF differs from that to the FAE of the intestine again stressing the site specificity of lectin binding. Thus, up to now no universal M-cell marker along the chicken intestine exists.

KW - Animals

KW - Bursa of Fabricius

KW - Carbohydrate Metabolism

KW - Carbohydrates

KW - Cecum

KW - Chickens

KW - Epithelium

KW - Glycoconjugates

KW - Histocytochemistry

KW - Ileum

KW - Intestinal Mucosa

KW - Lectins

KW - Lymphocytes

KW - Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

U2 - 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2005.00696.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2005.00696.x

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 15836446

VL - 52

SP - 138

EP - 146

JO - J VET MED A

JF - J VET MED A

SN - 0931-184X

IS - 3

ER -