The Ductus Epididymis of the Alpaca: Immunohistochemical and Lectin Histochemical Study |
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| Authors: | F Parillo A Verini Supplizi D Macrì G Catone |
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| Institution: | Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino-UNICAM, Matelica, Italy;;Department of Pathology, Diagnostic and Veterinary Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy;;Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, Palermo, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Our objective was to characterize epithelial cells lining the epididymal duct (caput, corpus, cauda) of the alpaca using AE1/AE3 cytokeratin antibodies and a battery of different lectins: Con-A, UEA-I, LTA WGA, GSA-II, GSA-IB4, SBA, PNA, ECA, DBA, MAL-II and SNA. Sialidase digestion and deglycosylation pre-treatments were also employed. The principal cells (PCs) along the epididymis showed differences in immunostaining patterns toward keratin antibodies. Lectin histochemistry demonstrated variations in the content and distribution of glycosidic residues of glycoconjugates in different epididymal regions. In particular, staining of the Golgi zone in the epithelial PCs was interpreted as evidence for synthesis and secretion of O- and N-linked oligosaccharides. In the caput, the apical mitochondria-rich cells contained mainly β-GalNAc, subterminal α-GalNAc, α-Gal and Neu5Ac α2,3Gal residues. Conversely, in the corpus they were particularly rich in α-GalNac and β-Gal-(1–3)- d -GalNAc linked to sialic acid moieties. Basal cells mainly expressed β-GalNAc and α-Gal in the caput, α-Gal in the corpus and α-Fuc and β-GalNAc in the cauda. The differences in immunostaining patterns and in lectin histochemistry in the alpaca epididymis reported in this investigation seem to be related to regional differences in function. |
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