A histochemical comparison of human corneal stromal glycoconjugates with eight other species. Distinct species-dictated differences in binding sites of Griffonia simplicifolia I

Frozen sections of human, calf, rabbit, rat, cat, dog, goat, lamb, and hog corneas were stained with various lectins using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex to study glycoconjugates of stromal matrix. Staining of the stromal matrix and keratocytes with an alpha-galactose-specific lectin, Griffonia simplicifolia I (GSA-I) was species-dependent. The stromal matrices of cat, dog, and hog corneas invariably reacted intensely with this lectin, whereas those of the human, calf, rabbit, rat, and lamb did not react. A positive reaction with GSA-I could be abolished in each instance by preincubation of the sections with alpha-galactosidase. The stromal matrices and keratocytes of all nine species reacted positively with wheat germ agglutinin, concanavalin A, and Ricinus communis agglutinin but did not react with soybean agglutinin. Results of this study may help select an appropriate animal model for further investigate human corneal stromal glycoconjugates.