Distribution of Galactose-N Acetyl Galactoseamine on the surface of adult mice kidney cells

Carbohydrate chains link to glycoproteins and glycolipids of the cell surface particulary their terminal sugars have key roles in cellular activities of almost all biological systems. Distribution of these glycoconjugates in adult kidney has not received fair attention yet. The purpose of this study was to identify in situ location of galactose – N – acetyle galactoseamine moleucles on the surface of the adult rat kidney.

After the resection of rat kidney and rotin fixation with regular lectin histochemical technique, MPA and PNA conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, lectins specific to indentify these terminal sugars in rat kidney.

Intense reaction of PNA to collective tubules, less intense and reaction with luminal surface of proximal tubules and MPA identified distinct cells among distal tubules as well as glomerules were observed.

It seems that this specific sugars related to the cellulars function of this region of adult kidney and probably genetically is regulated during embryonic development.