Distribution of some Glycoconjugates in Notochord and axial vessels during early morphogenesis in Balb/C mouse embryos

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins of plants or animal origin, which react with terminal sugars of glycoconjugates of cells and tissues. Glycoconjugates play essential role in several biological phenomena such as Cell recognition, proliferation, migration and differentiation. Notochord, a mesodermal derivative, induces nearby tissues, including Neural tube, sometimes and developing gut. The purpose of this study was to investigate distribution of glycoconjugates in component of notochord and axial vessels during mouse embryonic development. Formalin fixed sections embedded in paraffin from 9 to 14 embryonic days of Balb/c mice were processed for histochemical studies by using four different horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeled lectins including: Glycin Max (SBA), Vicia Villosa (VVA) and Maclura Pomifera (MPA) specific for GalNac terminal sugar and Lotus Tetragonolobus (LTA) that bind to? -L-fucose terminal sugar. Our results revealed that approximately similar reactions were observed in notochord and axial vessels endothelium by using GalNac sensitive lectins during vessels morphogenesis. Fucose sensitive lectin reacted only with the notochord. The time and significant role(s) in tissue interactions and subsequent formation of adjacent tissues such as: Axial vessels development during critical morphogenic period. Furthermore, our findings indicate that fucosylated glycoconjugates may have no role in axial vessel formation and/or their interactions with the notochord during early morphogenic period.