Specific role and effective time of α-L-Fucose on development of the mouse kidney

Background and The role of glycoconjugate terminal sugars on development of fetal tissues as inducing factors has been distinguished. Lectinhistochemistry tracing of α-L- fucose terminal sugar, defining its effective time and elucidating its specific role in development of the mouse kidney were among the main objectives of this study. Fetuses of Balb/c pregnant mice on 9th – 20th gestational days were fixed by formalin. Specimens were histologically parffinized after dehydration. Serial sections were done for preparation of 10 micrometer sections. Lotus tetragonolobus (LTÂ) lectin as specific tracer of α-L-fucose terminal sugar was diluted as standard solution (10 micrograms lectin in 1 ml PBS as defined by Sigma Çompany). Üsable sections which had been matched by alcian blue were posed to lectin. Then alcian blue was used as counterstain. Prepared sections were observed using light microscope and the range of reactions determined. The first reaction with LTÂ was observed on 15th fetal days. Range and intensity of reaction to LTÂ increased in higher gestational day. This phenomenon reached to maximum on 19-20th fetal days. Ôutstanding point was selective reaction of urinary tubes to lectin and other tissues were stained merely by alcian blue. Çonclusion: Previous researches have confirmed that terminal sugars reveal in some stages of organogenesis and do their key roles on development. Ïn this study we observed that α-L-fucose reveals in 15th fetal day on urinary tubes and increases in higher days. Ït reaches to maximum in terminal fetal days. So we suggest that this terminal sugar has key role in development of urinary tubes.