Histochemical evaluation of glycoconjugates in the male reproductive tract with lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates: II. Staining of ciliated cells, basal cells, flask cells, and clear cells in the mouse

Efferent reproductive ducts of male mice, including ductuli efferentes, epididymis, and vas deferens, were fixed and embedded in paraffin, and sections were stained with a battery of lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates to localize specific sugars or sugar sequences in glycoconjugates. Cilia and the apical surfaces of ciliated cells in the ductuli efferentes stained intensely with lectin specific for sialic acid and terminal alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. Flask cells and clear cells in the epididymis reacted positively and similarly with most lectins used, providing evidence that these cell types are related. In contrast, disparities in lectin staining suggest that flask cells and clear cells are a cell type distinct from principal cells. Basal cells were not present in the ductuli efferentes but formed a continuous layer in the epididymis and vas deferens. Basal cells contained oligosaccharides terminated by sialic acid and alpha-D-galactose and varying amounts of terminal beta-D-galactose and alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. Basal cells also stained variably with lectins specific for the core region of complex type N-glycosidic side chains. The basal cells varied structurally, having long spinous apical processes approaching or reaching the lumen in region I of the epididymis and being low cuboidal or squamoid and lacking apical processes in epididymal regions II-V and in the vas deferens. The contiguous nature of the basal cells and the presence of glycoconjugates bearing terminal alpha-galactosyl residues in all basal cells suggest a possible role for these cells in a regulatory influence on transepithelial movement of fluid and/or ions in the epididymis and vas deferens.