Pancreatic duct glands. II. Lectin binding affinities of ductular epithelium,ductular glands,and Brunner glands

Summary Secretory epithelia and ductular glands were studied in main pancreatic ducts of guinea pig, rabbit, rat, and man. Brunner glands were studied for comparison. Semithin sections from Epon-embedded tissues were etched with sodium methylate and incubated with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated lectins. Columnar cells in the epithelium of pancreatic ducts are endowed with well-developed microvillar borders. These apical regions strongly stain with Lotus A-, wheat germ-, and Ricinus I-lectins. Basolateral plasma membranes bind Ricinus I-, Ulex europaeus I-, and wheat germ-lectins. Cytosomes in the supranuclear regions of epithelial cells are interpreted as secretory granules. These droplets are marked by wheat germ-lectin and to a lesser degree by Ricinus I- and Ulex europaeus I-lectins. Ductular glands of the main pancreatic ducts contain secretions that bind Helix-, wheat germ-, and Ulex europaeus I-lectins. Their apical and basolateral cell membranes deeply stain with wheat germ- and Ulex europaeus I-lectins. Secretions of Brunner glands bind Ricinus I-, Ulex europaeus I-, Helix-, and wheat germ lectins. Their apical and basolateral cell membranes stain with Ricinus I- and wheat germ-lectins.-Species differences in lectin-binding affinities of complex carbohydrates were observed and are described.Part of these results has been presented as a poster during the 4th Symposium on Lectins in Cell Biology and Medicine June 25, 1983, Cologne, Federal Republic of Germany     

Histochemical studies on irradiated and obstructive human submandibular glands. Protein distribution and lectin-binding in the degenerative glands.

Immunohistochemical protein distribution of alpha-amylase (Am), lysozyme (Ly), cytokeratinin (CK), S-100 protein (S-100) and secretory component (SC), and lectin-binding (SBA and UEA-I) profiles were studied in 10 obstructive and 20 irradiated human submandibular glands which were surgically extirpated. Degenerative intensity of the glands was graded as I, II and III based on the order of severity. All proteins generally existed in serous acinic cells of the intact glands. The proteins immunoreactivities became weak even in mildly inflamed glands (grade I), and nearly disappeared from the moderately damaged glands (grade II). Duct cells had clear CK and some cells reacted with the anti-SC antibody, but other proteins were not observed on the ducts. Mucous cells possessed none of the proteins, and their lectin-binding was only traceable in some glands. Compared with immunoreactivities in the proteins, lectin-binding profiles were different. SBA and UEA-I bound somewhat similarly to both acinic and duct cells, and the binding was hardly affected even by severe degeneration (grade III). Between obstructive and irradiated glands, no obvious difference was observed in either protein distribution or lectin-binding. From the above, it seems that some proteins are more affective to the degeneration and that lectin-binding sugar residues are non-affective against the degenerative changes of the tissues.     

Electron microscopy of the oxynticopeptic cells of the gastric glands and the intestinal glands of the caecum of the guineapig.

Histomorphology of the gastric and intestinal glands was investigated in 19 sexually mature, adult guineapigs by light and transmission electron microscopy. Gastric glands exhibited the cytological characteristics of oxynticopeptic cells capable of both hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsinogen secretion. In the literature, occurrence of oxynticopeptic cells in the proventriculus of the domestic fowl (Toner, 1963; Bell & Freeman, 1971) and in the gastric glands of frogs has been reported (Sedar, 1961; Patt & Patt, 1969; Forte & Forte, 1970). It has been claimed by other investigators (Herriot et al., 1938; Long, 1967) that simultaneous secretion of HCl and pepsinogen by a single, not completely differentiated 'pure' cell type, was highly effective for rapid conversion of the zymogen to active enzyme. Under the light microscope with haematoxylin and eosin stain, the protein secreting activity of gastric glands in guineapigs was masked by the HCl secreting activity, thus morphologically resembling the oxyntic cells. Therefore, different cell types, for example protein-secreting peptic cells and the acid-secreting oxyntic cells, could not be distinguished on the basis of their morphology and staining affinity. For histochemical evaluation of the sections with stains-all method, most cells in the gastric glands responded by a positive reaction to protein. Further, protein containing cells were seen in the intestinal glands of the guineapig caecum. The function of this cell type was correlated with caecotrophic food habits of this species.     

Histochemistry of the duodenal glands of the cat and horse.

The duodenal glands of cat and horse were studied using PAS, Alcian blue, dialysed iron, aldehyde fuchsin-Alcian blue and high iron diamine stains. It was found that the duodenal glands of the horse reacted positively to Alcian blue, dialysed iron stains and also took the Alcian blue stain in the combined aldehyde fuchsin-Alcian blue and high iron diamine-Alcian blue stains. Those of the cat gave negative results. These results suggest the presence of acidic groups in the mucosubstances secreted by the horse's duodenal glands. A suggestion is put forward on the strength of the high iron diamine-Alcian blue combined stains that the acidity is due to the presence of carboxyl groups. It is suggested that the acidity may be significant in either cellulose metabolism or the digestion of the bacterial microflora from the stomach of herbivores.     

Progesterone metabolism by major salivary glands of rat--I. Submandibular and sublingual glands

The metabolism of progesterone by the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands of female (nonpregnant and pregnant) and male rats was studied. The metabolism was in both sexes significantly greater in submandibular than in sublingual glands. Sex differences were not seen in sublingual glands but less metabolism was found in homogenates and microsomal fractions of female (nonpregnant and pregnant) submandibular glands compared to that of males. The metabolism did not differ between pregnant and nonpregnant female rats. The metabolites were mainly 5 alpha-pregnane-compounds. On the basis of the metabolites identified it can be concluded that rat submandibular and sublingual glands contain at least 3 alpha-, 3 beta-, 20 alpha- and 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 5 alpha- and 5 beta-steroid hydrogenase and 17 alpha-steroid hydroxylase activity. 5 alpha-steroid hydrogenase activity was significantly higher in all preparations of male submandibular glands than in females. In sublingual glands some enzyme activities showed pregnancy-related decreased.     

The role of the seminal vesicles, coagulating glands and prostate glands on the fertility and fecundity of mice.

Female mice were allowed to mate with males which had been sham-operated (Group 1); had seminal vesicles, coagulating glands and ventral and dorsal prostate glands removed (Group 2); had the seminal vesicles removed (Group 3); had the coagulating glands removed (Group 4) or had the ventral and dorsal prostate gland removed (Group 5). The pregnancy rate was normal in Groups 1 and 4, severely reduced in Groups 2 and 3 and less so in Group 5. Litter size was reduced in Groups 2 and 3 but not in Group 5. It is suggested that the seminal vesicles and possibly the prostate glands are important in the production of young in mice.     

Phosphatases in the lingual glands of man and dog.

Phosphatase activity was demonstrated in the lingual glands of man and dog. Especially the ducts of the glandular elements of the dog exhibited a peculiar and rather perplexing pattern of activity which does not seem to fit in with any of the prevailing concepts of the function of the duct system. The secretory capillaries (Sekretionscapillaren) in many of the serous acini of the human lingual glands have demonstrated phosphatase activity with all the 17 substrates used. The significance of these phosphatases, expecially ATPase, in the active transport across biological unit membranes has been discussed.     

Localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the adrenal and thyroid glands.

A case of immunoblastic lymphoma, involving only the thyroid and the adrenal glands, is presented. The patient had clinical symptoms and findings of Addison's disease, and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated bilateral adrenal tumoral enlargement. He also had euthyroid diffuse multinodular goiter. The diagnosis of the patient was based on the cytological examination of the aspiration materials from both endocrine glands. The patient received "m-BNCOD" chemotherapy regimen and replacement therapy for Addison's disease. At the end of three courses, a partial response was obtained.