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Lectin Histochemical Identification of the Carbohydrate Moieties on N- and O-linked Oligosaccharides in the Duct Cells of the Testis of an Amphibian Urodele, The Spanish Newt (Pleurodeles Waltl)

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Abstract

The aim of the present work was to study the carbohydrate moieties present on N- and O-linked oligosaccharides of duct cells of a urodele amphibian testis, by means of lectin histochemistry. It was found that duct cells have a carbohydrate composition that includes ensuremath α(1,3)-, α(1,4)- or α(1,6)-linked Fuc and Man on N-linked oligosaccharides, Gal and GlcNAc on O-linked oligosaccharides, and DBA-positive GalNAc, α(1,2)-linked Fuc and Neu5Acα(2,3)Gal β(1,4)GlcNAc on both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. All the duct cells showed the same lectin labelling pattern, the only exception being some sparse duct cells that showed the sequence Neu5Acα(2,6)Gal/GalNAc. The possible roles of duct cells in sperm maturation and the hypothesis for a common origin of duct and follicle (Sertoli) cells in the urodele testis are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Morphological Sciences, University of the Basque Country, E-48940, Leioa (Vizcaya), Spain

    Francisco José Sáez, Juan Francisco Madrid & Edurne Alonso

  2. Department of Cell Biology, University of Murcia, Espinardo (Murcia), Spain

    Francisco Hernández

Authors
  1. Francisco José Sáez
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  2. Juan Francisco Madrid
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  3. Edurne Alonso
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  4. Francisco Hernández
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José Sáez, F., Francisco Madrid, J., Alonso, E. et al. Lectin Histochemical Identification of the Carbohydrate Moieties on N- and O-linked Oligosaccharides in the Duct Cells of the Testis of an Amphibian Urodele, The Spanish Newt (Pleurodeles Waltl). Histochem J 32, 717–724 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004196926553

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