Endocytotic pathways across the human gall-bladder mucosa: permeability studies using horseradish peroxidase

Summary Human gall-bladder epithelium obtained straight from the operating theatre was incubated in an Ussing chamber with the fluid phase marker, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), for up to 60 min. When the marker was presented on the apical surface, within 30 min it had moved readily across the apical cytoplasm in transport vesicles to receptosomes and into the lateral intercellular space, extending across the basement membrane into the lamina propria. When HRP was presented at the basal aspect, within 30 min it had moved through the lamina propria, across the basement membrane and into the lateral intercellular space. By 60 min, only small amounts had been taken up by the epithelial cells and transported to receptosomes. These data indicate a rapid transmucosal endocytotic pathway for blood-or bile-borne macromolecules.     

Immunocytochemical localization of insulin-like immunoreactivity in mouse seminal vesicle

Insulin-like immunoreactivity was localized in tissue sections and cell cultures of mouse seminal vesicle using the indirect technique of immunocytochemistry. Seminal vesicles were cut into fragments, fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, embedded in epoxy resin, sectioned at 1 micron, and transferred to glass slides. Epithelial cell cultures of seminal vesicle were grown on coverslips in Dulbecco's Minimal Essential Medium for 4-6 days and fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde. Sections (etched with sodium ethanolate) or coverslips were incubated in guinea pig antiporcine insulin antiserum, in antiserum immunoabsorbed with porcine insulin, or in normal guinea pig serum. For indirect immunocytochemistry, incubation with primary antiserum was followed by treatment with rabbit anti-guinea pig immunoglobulin (Ig) G conjugated to peroxidase, or with protein A and then rabbit peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP). Finally, treated samples were incubated in phenylenediamine-pyrocatechol-H2O2 substrate mixture for 6-8 min at room temperature. Specific immunoreactivity to insulin antisera was confined to the epithelium of the seminal vesicle in tissue sections. No staining occurred in subepithelial connective tissue. Specific immunoreactivity was also observed in the cytoplasm of cultured seminal vesicle epithelial cells.     

Morphometric and stereological study of the seminal vesicle of the guinea pig.

The seminal vesicle of the guinea pig has been widely used as a model for the study of hormonal action on the male accessory sex organ, but there have been few attempts to quantify their cellular and tissue components. In the present study, the seminal vesicle of the guinea pig was described in the form of a morphometric model. Tissue samples were taken from the distal, middle and proximal regions of the gland and processed for light microscopy. Using a combination of a stereological point-counting technique and direct measurement, the relative volumes of different components (lumen, epithelium, lamina propria and fibromuscular layer) were determined. The relative numbers of the secretory cells and basal cells were also estimated. Following the estimation of the average size of the seminal vesicle, the relative volume of different components and the relative number of secretory cells were transformed into absolute data on a per average seminal vesicle basis. Similarly, the average sizes of the secretory cells and nuclei were also determined. The quantitative data generated from the present study will serve as a baseline for further studies of the seminal vesicle of the guinea pig. The techniques used in the present study are easy to apply, and data generated were objective and reproducible.     

Ultrastructural and cytochemical studies of the effects of prolactin on the lateral prostate and the seminal vesicle of the castrated guinea pig

Summary Administration of ovine prolactin to castrated guinea pigs for 2 weeks induced hypertrophy of secretory cells in the lateral prostate when compared with the castrated controls. This was accompanied by an apparent increase in the number of profiles of granular endoplasmic reticulum and well developed Golgi complexes with dilated cisternae. An increase in the number of low-contrast electron-dense secretory granules was observed 4 weeks after prolactin treatment. In the seminal vesicle, dilatation and degranulation of granular endoplasmic reticulum and an apparent decrease in the number of secretory granules were observed 4 weeks after prolactin administration. Following castration and 2 weeks after prolactin treatment, thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase)-reaction product was mainly confined to 1–2 trans cisternae of the Golgi complexes in secretory cells of the lateral prostate and the seminal vesicle. In both glands, a reduction of TPPase activity was observed 2 weeks following prolactin administration, and the reaction product was totally absent after prolonged treatment for 4 weeks. The present study has provided morphological evidence that prolactin is capable of stimulating the secretory function of the lateral prostate while exerting some inhibitory effects on the seminal vesicle of the castrated guinea pig. In both glands, TPPase activity, and hence the process of glycosylation was inhibited after prolactin administration. The results from radioimmunoassay indicated that the action of prolactin on these glands could be a direct effect and not mediated through testosterone.     

Histomorphometric, histochemical and microstereological studies on the accessory glands of the male African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse)

Histomorphometric analysis of the accessory glands of the male giant rat showed that structurally these organs resemble those of other rodents. The mean weight, epithelial height, volumetric proportion of these organs and their enzyme activity were determined. While the seminal vesicle had the highest mean weight and epithelial height, the prostate had the highest proportion of connective tissue. The seminal vesicle showed high ATPase and moderate glucose-6-phosphatase activities. These findings are compared with those reported for some other mammals.     

Distribution of urokinase-type plasminogen activator immunoreactivity in the mouse

Immunocytochemistry, using rabbit antibodies to a urokinase-type 48- Kdalton Mr mouse plasminogen activator, showed that enzyme immunoreactivity is widely distributed in the normal mouse. Strong staining was obtained in widely disseminated connective tissue cells with a fibroblast-like morphology. Such cells occurred in high numbers in the lamina propria mucosae of the gastrointestinal tract, and in moderate numbers in the connective tissue septa of the pancreas. A few such cells were detected around the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. Immunoreactivity also occurred in epithelial cells of the proximal and distal kidney tubules, the ductus deferens, and in pulmonary pneumocytes. In addition, presumably extracellular staining was seen irregularly along the basement membrane and fibrillar structures in the lamina propria of the small and large intestines. Moreover, decidual cells of the mouse placenta stained strongly, and a moderate staining was observed in epithelial cells of involuting mammary glands, but not in those of noninvoluting glands. No immunoreactivity was observed in endothelial cells. Control experiments included absorption of the antibodies against highly-purified mouse plasminogen activator and the corresponding proenzyme, and the finding of a good correspondence between the number of immunoreactive cells and measurable enzymatic activity determined in adjacent tissue sections. Separation by SDS PAGE followed by immunoblotting revealed only one immunochemically stainable protein band with Mr approximately 48 Kdaltons in extracts from tissues showing immunoreactivity.     

Some histochemical studies on the prostate, urethral and bulbourethral glands of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Synopsis The histochemical localization of carbohydrates, ribonucleoproteins (RNA), lipids, some hydrolytic enzymes, succinate and lactate dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase were investigated in the prostate, urethral and bulbourethral glands of the camel. These glands probably secrete carbohydrate-protein complexes. In the bulbourethral glands, they are sulphated mucopolysaccharides. RNA was seen in the cytoplasm of the prostate and urethral glands. Neutral lipids were cytoplasmic and present in moderate amounts in the prostate and urethral glands and in traces, in the bulbourethral gland. Acid phosphatase-containing granules were abundant in the prostate, moderate in the urethral glands and in traces in the bulbourethral glands. Alkaline phosphatase was observed in the apical cytoplasm of the prostate and bulbourethral glands and in the ducts of the urethral glands. ATPase and adenosine 5-monophosphatase were seen in the basal laminae and interstitial tissue. In the urethral glands, adenosine 5-monophosphatase was distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm. Succinate dehydrogenase was seen in the urethral and bulbourethral glands. Varying degrees of lactate dehydrogenase activity was observed in all the glands. Acetylcholinesterase was confined to neural elements. The pars disseminata and the urethral glands were considered as two distinct glandular zones along the pelvic urethra. The significance of these histochemical results is discussed.     

Ultrastructural study of the effects of 17 beta-oestradiol on the lateral prostate and seminal vesicle of the castrated guinea pig

Administration of oestradiol to castrated animals induced hypertrophy of the secretory cells in the lateral prostate and seminal vesicle. In the lateral prostate, increases in the number of small highly electron-dense granules, multivesicular bodies and intercellular spaces were the prevailing effects 2 weeks after oestradiol treatment. There was also an apparent increase in the amount of cytokeratin intermediate filaments. Prolonged oestradiol administration for 4 weeks showed no appreciable changes in the glandular epithelium when compared with 2-week treatment. However, an increase in the thickness of the fibromuscular layer was observed. In the seminal vesicle, basal cell hyperplasia was associated with a concurrent increase in the size of intercellular spaces 2 weeks after oestradiol administration. There were also apparent increases in the volume of the lamina propria and in the number of stromal cells. An apparent increase in the density of collagen fibres in the stroma was observed 2 and 4 weeks after oestradiol administration. In conclusion, the responses of the epithelium of the lateral prostate and seminal vesicle to a pharmacological dose of oestradiol are different. Prolonged oestradiol administration exerts a more prominent effect on the smooth muscle in the lateral prostate but not in the seminal vesicle. The effects of oestradiol may be mediated directly or indirectly through the other hormones.     

Distribution of entactin in the basement membrane of the rat mammary gland. Evidence for a non-epithelial origin

Entactin, a sulfated glycoprotein with a molecular weight (MW) of about 150 kD, is present in vascular basement membranes and in the interstitial connective tissue of the mammary glands of virgin rats. It does not appear to be present in the basement membrane surrounding the mammary ductal system. However, in lactating mammary glands entactin is also present in the basement membrane region surrounding the secretory alveoli. Ultrastructural localisation of entactin reveals that it is present on the basal surface of epithelial cells, with patchy staining in the lamina lucida and lamina densa. Entactin also appears to be associated with interstitial collagen fibres. Mammary fibroblastic cells in culture are able to produce entactin, whereas mammary epithelial and myoepithelial cells, which synthesise the basement membrane proteins laminin and type IV collagen, fail to synthesise entactin.     

An electron microscopic study of absorption of peroxidase-conjugated immunoglobulin G by guinea pig visceral yolk sac in vitro.

In the guinea pig and some other animals, passive immunity is conferred on the developing fetus by passage of immunoglobulin from mother to fetus across the yolk sac. In order to examine the cytological pathway involved in immunoglobulin transport, guinea pig visceral yolk sacs from late in gestation were exposed in vitro to peroxidase-conjugated guinea pig immunoglobulin G (IgG-HRP). Tissue was then fixed, incubated to show the site of localization of peroxidase reaction product and prepared for electron microscopy. The results suggested that the first step in the uptake of IgG-HRP by yolk sac is attachment of the protein to the surface coats of endocytic invaginations at the apical surfaces of the endodermal cells. The endocytic vesicles then appear to pinch off from the surface and move deeper into the cytoplasm. Some of the small endocytic vesicles fuse with large apical vacuoles, which often contain large amounts of reaction product. Other small endocytic vesicles pinch off from the surface, move deeper into the cytoplasm and fuse with the lateral plasmalemma; their protein content is emptied into the intercellular space by exocytosis. From the intercellular spaces the protein presumably diffuses across the basement membrane and connective tissue spaces and enters the vitelline capillary bed. It is postulated that the latter cellular pathway, involving small vesicles and the intercellular spaces, is utilized by those immunoglobulins which are transferred intact across the yolk sac endoderm.     

Observations on the ultrastructure of the copulatory organ of Archilopsis unipunctata (Fabricius, 1826) (Proseriata,Monocelididae)

The copulatory organ in adult specimens of Archilopsis unipunctata has been studied by transmission electron microscopy.This copulatory organ is of the conjuncta-duplex type with eversible cirrus. The seminal vesicle, lined with a nucleate epithelium, is surrounded by spirally arranged muscles. The fibres are enclosed in a sheath that is continuous with the septum of the bulbus and the basement lamina of the male canal epithelium. Distally to the seminal vesicle the bulbus is filled with the secretory cell-necks of the prostate glands. The male canal shows three different parts: seminal duct, ejaculatory duct and eversible cirrus. At the transition of seminal duct and ejaculatory duct two prostate ducts open into the lumen. The structure of the epithelium lining the different parts of the canal is described. The transition into the cirrus may be recognized by an abrupt change in the thickness, the electron density and the stratification in the basement lamina and by the disappearance of the epithelium absent indeed in the cirrus. The material found inside the cirrus-lumen is different according to the zone considered. The origin of this material and of the cirrus teeth is discussed.Abbreviations ab- apoptotic body - ba- bacteria - bb- basal bodies of cilia - bl- basement lamina - bw- body wall - c- cilia - cb- cell body - cgp- common genital porus - ci- cirrus - cip- cirrus plug - cl- lumen of cirrus - cm- circular muscles - cr- cytoplasmatic remnants - cs- cytoplasmatic sheets - ejd- ejaculatory duct - ep_ej- epithelium of ejaculatory duct - d- desmosomes - f- flagella of spermatozoa - fd- female duct - fp- female porus - gc- golgi complex - gl- glycogen particles - hd- hemidesmosomes - lm- longitudinal muscles - ly- lysosome-like body - m- muscles - m_b- muscles of the bulbus - m_c- muscles of the cirrus - m_c- muscles of the seminal vesicle - mi- mitochondria - ml- microvilli - ms- mesenchyme - n_sd- nuclei of the seminal duct - pd- prostate duct - pg- prostate glands - ri- ribosomes - s- septum - sb- secretory vesicle - sd- seminal duct - sp- spines - sv- seminal vesicle - v- vagina - vd- vas deferens     

A comparison of membrane enzymes of human and pig oesophagus; the pig oesophagus is a good model for studies of the gullet in man

Summary The distribution and relative catalytic activities of five plasma membrane enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, microsomal alanyl aminopeptidase and glutamyl aminopeptidase) were examined in human and pig oesophagus. In both species, alkaline phosphatase activity occurred in basal and suprabasal cells of the epithelium and in capillaries. Stromal cells in the human submucosa were particularly reactive. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV was present in blood vessels and capillaries in man and pig and in submucous glands in the pig. The enzyme was also present in both species in the lamina propria cells immediately adjacent to the epithelial basal lamina. In the human, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase occurred in the epithelial basal cells and in isolated basal and lower prickle cells in the pig. Stromal cells in the human submucosa were strongly reactive and capillaries in the muscularis propria in both species moderately active. Microsomal alanyl aminopeptidase was detected in lamina propria cells adjacent to the epithelial basal cell layer in man and pig and at the apices of mucous cells in pig submucous glands. Weak glutamyl aminopeptidase activity was confined to capillaries in both species. The findings of this study, along with the ready availability of pig oesophagus, suggest that the pig may be a suitable model for studies of the gullet in man.     

Histology and ultrastructure of the gut epithelium of the neotenic cave salamander, Proteus anguinus (Amphibia, Caudata)

Histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural features of the gut of the European endemic cave salamander Proteus anguinus were studied. The gut is a relatively undifferentiated muscular tube lined with a simple columnar epithelium containing numerous goblet cells. The mucosa and underlying lamina propria/submucosa are elevated into a number of high longitudinal folds projecting into the lumen. The enterocytes are covered apically with uniform microvilli. Irregularity in the arrangement of microvilli was observed. Occasionally, irregular protrusions of the cytoplasm appear between groups of microvilli. Pinocytotic activity occurs at the bases of the intermicrovillous space. Mitochondria are numerous in the apical cytoplasm and basally beneath the nuclei. The supranuclear cytoplasm contains most of the cell organelles. The lateral plasma membranes of adjacent cells interdigitate and are joined by junctional complexes. The periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction, indicating neutral mucosubstances, is positive only in the apical brush border of enterocytes and in goblet cells. The goblet cells also stained with Alcian blue (AB), at pH 2.5, thus revealing the presence of carboxylated glycosaminoglycans. Compact aggregations of AB- and PAS-negative cells are situated directly below the epithelium. Mitotic figures are present in individual clusters of cells. The fine structure of cells in these clusters indicated that these cells could be responsible for renewal of intestinal epithelium. Numerous endocrine-like cells could also be seen. The closely packed smooth muscle cells and amorphous extracellular material with collagen fibrils constitute a net-like structure under the basal lamina that is very closely associated with the epithelium. There are numerous acidophilic granular cells between epithelial cells, in the lamina propria/submucosa, and between cells aggregations. They seem to be associated with nematode infections and possibly constitute a humoral defense mechanism.     

Resorption of horseradish peroxidase from the middle ear cavity of guinea pigs

Summary Horseradish peroxidase was injected into the middle ear and bulla of guinea pigs. In less than 5 minutes the peroxidase had reached the basement membrane, mainly through the epithelial intercellular spaces, and after 20 minutes it was observed in the lamina propria.     

Organogenesis of the colon in rats

Colonic organogenesis in rats was studied using light microscopic techniques for the demonstration of mucosubstances, glycogen, and connective tissue fibers. Crypts began as intraepithelial spaces which were in continuity with the colonic lumen. The cells forming the floors of these spaces invaded the nonsulfated acid glycosaminoglycan-rich mesenchyme as the basement membrane became discontinuous. As the diameter of the colon increased, the crypts lengthened and the lamina propria thickened until a layer of collagen and sulfated acid glycosaminoglycans formed at the bases of the crypts and the basement membrane was reestablished. The circular layer of the muscularis externa developed first, then the longitudinal layer, and finally the muscularis mucosae. Three types of mucous cells arose in these newly formed crypts. The initial epithelial cell type contained glycogen and gave rise to cells with apical coats of nonsulfated acid glycoproteins. This cell type was followed by the appearance of cells at the bases of the crypts containing nonsulfated acid glycoproteins. As the crypts lengthened, the goblet cells near the base contained nonsulfated and/or sulfated acid glycoproteins. Closer to and on the surface, the cells contained sulfated acid glycoproteins, a mixture of sulfated acid and neutral glycoproteins, or just neutral glycoproteins. Striated-border cells appeared intermingled with the mucous cells close to the bases of the crypts and continued onto the surface. A comparison was made between regeneration following placement of a surgical lesion in adult rats and events in organogenesis of the colon.     

Postnatal study on the histochemistry of epididymis in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The histochemical localisation and development of carbohydrates, acid mucopolysaccharides, lipids and desoxyribonucleic acid has been determined in the head, body and tail segments of buffalo epididymis at different stages of postnatal development from 3-76 weeks of age. The cytoplasm contains numerous Schiff-positive, diastase-resistant granules which are abundant in the apical region of the epithelial cells at 3-52 weeks. They decrease in number at 72-76 weeks and instead, a diffuse Schiff-positive material is observed in the cytoplasm of the cells, particularly in regions III-VI of the epididymis. In all the stages of development, the basement membrane and the luminal border of the epithelial cells have strong PAS-positive reaction. The intertubular connective tissue is mildly PAS-reactive, with moderate activity on the endothelial lining and smooth muscles of blood vessels. The capsule shows an intense Schiff-positive material in the fibers while the stereocilia are mildly reactive. PAS activity is less in region I and greater in regions V-VI as compared with the other regions of the epididymis. A moderate quantity of lipids is present in the epithelial cells and smooth muscles of the tubules. Sudanophilia is more pronounced in the tail region as compared with the head and body regions of the epididymis. Acid mucopolysaccharides are present, minutely, in the epithelial cell cytoplasm, with moderate activity on the stereocilia of the tubules. The Feulgen reaction is deep in region I and light to moderate in the other regions of the epididymis.     

Fine structure of the seminal vesicle epithelium of the mouse and golden hamster

The seminal vesicle epithelium of the mouse and golden hamster was examined by light microscopy and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. By transmission electron microscopy, in the seminal vesicle epithelium of both animals secretory epithelial cells which consisted of mostly light and a few dark cells were observed. The epithelial cells possessed secretory granules which contained a densely stained core. The secretory granules in the mouse epithelium reacted weakly with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain and were slightly stained with alcian blue (AB), and those in the golden hamster exhibited strongly positive reactions with PAS and AB. The nuclei in the mouse tissue were spherical or ovoid, and those in the golden hamster tissue had a few lobes. By scanning electron microscopy, the apical surfaces of most of the epithelial cells were commonly flat or domed, and those of some epithelial cells protruded into the lumen as apocrine-like processes, or possessed small and large orifices. Besides the epithelial cells, there were cells characterized by pseudopodium-like cytoplasmic projections, a few membranous structures, an irregular nucleus, and cytoplasm containing a few dense bodies, in the basal portions of the epithelial cells, or between the basal lamina and the epithelial cells. These cells of the two species were similar in their features.     

Ultrastructural changes in the connective tissue of the gastric region during the metamorphosis of Xenopus laevis

Development of the gastric connective tissue of Xenopus laevis during metamorphosis was investigated by electron microscopy. Throughout the larval period to stage 60, the layer of connective tissue underlying the gastric epithelium consists of immature fibroblasts surrounded by a sparse extracellular matrix. At the beginning of the transition from the larval to the adult epithelial form, at about stage 60, extensive changes occur in the connective tissue. The number of cells suddenly increses and different cell types appear. Numerous contacts between epithelial and connective tissue cells are established through random gaps in the thickened basal lamina. During stages 62–63, just after the beginning of the morphogenesis of adult-type glands, the basal lamina lining the glandular epithelium becomes thinner, and the number of contacts decreases rapidly except near the tips of the glands. After the glandular cells begin to produce zymogen granules at stage 64, contacts become rare. From stage 63, when the muscularis mucosae develops, until the completion of metamorphosis, the connective tissue consists mainly of typical fibroblasts. Outside the muscularis mucosae, the fibroblasts of the lamina propria are aligned in parallel with the curvature of the glands. These observations indicate that developmental changes in the connective tissue are closely related spatiotemporally to those of the epithelial transition from larval to adult form during metamorphic climax. Although some changes are similar to those in the intestine (Ishizuya-Oka and Shimozawa, '87b), others are specific to the gastric region, which suggests that connective tissue may have a role in organ-specific differentiation of the gastric epithelium.     

The distribution of MUC1, an apical membrane glycoprotein, in mammary epithelial cells at the resolution of the electron microscope: implications for the mechanism of milk secretion

The distribution of the glycoprotein, mucin 1 (MUC1), was determined in lactating guinea-pig mammary tissue at the resolution of the electron microscope. MUC1 was detected on the apical plasma membrane of secretory epithelial cells, the surface of secreted milk-fat globules, the limiting membranes of secretory vesicles containing casein micelles and in small vesicles and tubules in the apical cytoplasm. Some of the small MUC1-containing vesicles were associated with the surfaces of secretory vesicles and fat droplets in the cytoplasm. MUC1 was detected in much lower amounts on basal and lateral plasma membranes. By quantitative immunocytochemistry, the ratio of MUC1 on apical membranes and milk-fat globules to that on secretory vesicle membranes was estimated to be 9.2:1 (density of colloidal gold particles/microm membrane length). The ratio of MUC1 on apical membranes compared with basal/lateral membranes was approximately 99:1. The data are consistent with a mechanism for milk-fat secretion in which lipid globules acquire an envelope of membrane from the apical surface and possibly from small vesicles containing MUC1 in the cytoplasm. During established lactation, secretory vesicle membrane does not appear to contribute substantially to the milk-fat globule membrane, or to give rise in toto to the apical plasma membrane.     

Localization of prostatic glycoconjugates by the lectin-gold method.

The glycoconjugates of the lateral prostate were examined ultrastructurally by lectin-gold histochemistry in combination with a low-temperature embedding technique using Lowicryl K4M. The binding patterns of concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, Griffonia simplicifolia, soybean agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, Ricinus communis agglutinin isolectin I, Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4, Ulex europaeus isolectin I and Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin P have been documented in the subcellular compartments of the lateral prostate. The results show that the granular endoplasmic reticulum (GER) is rich in glycoproteins with mannosyl residues while the Golgi cisternae, secretory granules and microvilli are less so. The mannose (Man) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues present in the GER of the epithelial cells may be associated with the initial assembly of the N-linked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. The secretory granules exhibited different reactivities to lectins. Most of the lectin-binding sites confined to the limiting membranes may play a role in the transport of plasmalemma glycoconjugates to the apical plasma membrane. The epithelial Golgi stack is rich in GlcNAc, galactose (Gal), N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) and sialic acid residues, and a compartmental organization of the Golgi stack is apparent which might be associated with the sequential addition of sugar residues to the oligosaccharides. The plasma membrane contains abundant Man, GlcNAc, Gal, GalNAc and complex carbohydrates, especially in the microvilli, and a differential lectin labelling was noted between the apical and basolateral plasma membrane. The present study showed that fucose-containing glycoconjugates were detected in the apical plasma membrane of the lateral prostate. The stromal extracellular matrices as well as the epithelial basement membranes demonstrated weak lectin reaction. Man, GlcNAc, Gal residues and complex sugars were also noted in the stromal tissues of the lateral prostate including the extracellular matrix, capillaries and smooth muscle.