Lectin histochemistry on the apocrine sweat glands of dog dorsal skin

The secretory segment of apocrine sweat glands of thè dog dorsal skin was studied by means of both conventional carbohydrate histochemistry and lectin histochemistry. Conventional glycoconjugate histochemistry revealed mostly neutral glycoproteins and partly acidic non sulphated glycoproteins in thè apical protrusions of thè secretory cells as well as in thè luminal secretions of thè glands. The lectin histochemistry showed Con A binding sites in thè whole cytoplasm of thè secretory cells. The supra-nuclear granules (probably including also Golgi elements) were labelled by SNA, MAA, RCA120, Con A, and GSA I-B4 thus indicating thè presence of sialylated or asialylated N-linked oligosaccharides. The luminal surface of secretory cells reacted with ali thè lectins employed except with SBA. The apocrine protrusions revealed a generai decrease in thè lectin staining intensin-. and lacking of GSA I-B4, UEA-I, and LTA reactivity. The luminal homogeneous matrix labelled SXA. \TGA, GSA II, and GSA I-B4.