Lectin binding in oral mucosa of mammals.

Abstract

The binding of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated lectin was studied in the oral mucosa of several mammals [mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, monkey]. The following lectins were used; Con A, PNA, SBA, DBA, RCA-1, UEA-1 and WGA [concanavalin A, peanut lectin, soy bean lectin, horse gram lectin, casterbean lectin, gorse lectin and wheat germ lectin, respectively]. Con A staining was exhibited strongly in the connective tissue cells, moderately in germinal cells, and negatively in the keratinized layer. Following periodate oxidation (PA/Con A) it revealed different distribution patterns as compared to single Con A staining; i.e., PA/Con A was limited to the spinous cell epithelium. Lectin binding gave weak results in basal cells, strong in spinous cells, and showed no effect in keratinized layers. Using lectins-PNA, SBA, RCA-1, UEA-1, and WGA-, the effects in the oral squamous epithelium revealed zonal or regional distribution in their respective individual layers except for a few exceptions.