Lectin histochemistry study in the domestic cat epididymis

The epithelium lining the mammalian epidìdymis synthesizes and secretes glycoproteins involved in maturation and Storage of sperm. This study analyzed the oligosaccharide sequence of epithelium and spermatozoa of the cat epididymis by means the lectin histochemistry. Epididymides from adult cats were fixed in Bouin's fluid and embedded in Paraplast. Sections were stained with 13 lectins in combination with sialidase (s) treatment. Basai cells show no lectinbinding sites. Apical cells reacted with s-PNA and GSA I-B4 in the cauda epididymis. Principal cells showed: 1) Golgì zone affinity to UEA I along the ductus, and no binding to MAL II, DBA, RCA120, HPA, WGA as well as no change of PNA staining after sialidase treatment in the caudal region; 2) apical zone reactivity with SBA in the whole ductus and with SNA in the cauda. Stereocilia showed a major reactivity with MAL II, PNA, s-PNA, s-DBA, RCA120, WGA in the cauda and no change in thè staining intensity with SNA, HPA, SBA, Con A along the ductus. Spermatozoa displayed a staining increase with MAL II, PNA, s-PNA, s-DBA, RCA120, HPA, SBA, WGA moving to cauda epididymis but no change with SNA and Con A. The regional differences in the lectin-binding pattern of thè epithelium and spermatozoa of cat epididymis could be related to the production of region-specific glycoproteins implicated in the maturation and/or storage of spermatozoa.