Summary
In the present work we localized binding sites for the lectins WGA, RCA I, con A and SBA at the ultrastructural levels in morphologically different basement membranes. These different basement membranes included (a) thin ones, for example, tubular basement membrane of the mouse kidney which separates epithelial cell layers from mesenchymal cells and glomerular basement membrane which separates epithelial cells from other epithelial cells, (b) thick multilayered ones, for example, Reichert's membrane which is built up during the embryonic development of rodents and as an example of a pathologically thickened basement membrane, the basement membrane of the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) sarcoma. We were able to show that, in contrast to the thick multilayered basement membranes, the thin ones showed a strong positive SBA-binding pattern. Thick basement membranes otherwise revealed very strong labelling with the lectins WGA and RCA I. Our findings lead us to conclude that thin and thick basement membranes differ markedly in the quality and quantity of the carbohydrates which they contain.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brauer, P. R. & Keller, J. M. (1989) Ultrastructure of a model basement membrane lacking type IV collagen. Anat. Rec. 223, 376–83.
Goldstein, I. J. & Poretz, R. D. (1986) Isolation, physicochemical characterization and carbohydrate-binding specificity of lectins. In The lectins. Properties, functions and Applications in Biology and Medicine (edited by Liener, I. E., Sharon, N. & Goldstein, I. J.). pp. 35–250. Orlando: Academic Press.
Grant, D. S. & Leblond, C. P. (1988) Immunogold quantitation of laminin, type IV collagen and heparan sulfate proteoglycan in a variety of basement membranes. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 36, 271–83.
Herken, R., Fussek, M. & Thies, M. (1988) Light and electron microscopical postembedding lectin histochemistry for WGA-binding sites in the renal cortex of the mouse embedded in polyhydroxy aromatic resins LR-White and LR-Gold. Histochemistry 89, 277–82.
Herken, R., Sander, B. & Hofmann, M. (1990) Ultrastructural localization of WGA, RCA I, LFA and SBA binding sites in the seven-day-old mouse embryo. Histochemistry 94, 525–30.
Holthöfer, H., Pettersson, E. & Törnroth, T. (1987) Diabetes mellitus associated changes in glomerular glycocompounds: a fluorescence microscopical study. Histochem. J. 19, 351–6.
Inoué, S. & Leblond, C. P. (1988) Three-dimensional network of cords: the main components of basement membranes. Am. J. Anat. 181, 341–58.
Martinez-Hernandez, A. & Amenta, P. S. (1983) The basement membrane in pathology. Lab. Invest. 48, 656–74.
Spicer, S. S. & Schulte, B. A. (1992) Review article. Diversity of cell glycoconjugates shown histochemically: a perspective. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 40, 1–38.
Timpl, R. & Dziadek, M. (1986) Structure, development and molecular pathology of the basement membranes. In International Review of Experimental Pathology Vol 29, pp. 1–112. Orlando: Academic Press.
Timpl, R., Fujiwara, S., Dziader, M., Aumailley, M., Weber, S. & Engel, J. (1984) Laminin, proteoglycan, nidogen and collagen IV: structural models and molecular interactions. In Basement Membranes and Cell Movement (CIBA Foundation symposium 108) (edited by Porter, R. & Whelan, J.). pp. 25–43. London: Pitman.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Salamat, M., Götz, W., Werner, J. et al. Ultrastructural localization of lectin-binding sites in different basement membranes. Histochem J 25, 464–468 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00157811
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00157811