Biomaterial Database

Histochemical examination of glycoconjugates of epithelial cells in the human fallopian tube. 1985

B A Schulte, and K P Rao, and A Kreutner, and G N Thomopoulos, and S S Spicer

In human fallopian tubes, secretory cells made up about 70% and ciliated cells most of the remainder of the epithelium. At the light microscopic level, lectin-peroxidase conjugates and other methods demonstrated on secretory cells a surface glycocalyx containing glycoconjugates with fucose residues, terminal sialic acid-beta-galactose disaccharides, and sulfate esters. Secretory cells also expressed ABO blood group antigens, on their surface, staining for terminal alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine and alpha-galactose in blood group A and B subjects, respectively. The glycocalyx coating the cilia of all ciliated cells contained an acidic glycoconjugate with terminal sialic acid-beta-galactose disaccharides. Ciliated cells ranged from strongly positive to negative in staining for blood group ABO antigens, fucose, and terminal beta-galactose. The glycocalyx on the surface of cilia differed from that on the secretory cell surface in lacking sulfate esters and possessing terminal sialic acid-beta-galactose disaccharides cytochemically unlike those on secretory cells. Cytoplasmic granules, presumably secretory in nature, stained for blood group antigen in secretory cells of some specimens. Two lectin conjugates with affinity for the core region of N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides revealed bodies interpreted as lysosomes in ciliated and secretory cells of most specimens. The latter lectins also stained mast cells intensely, presumably because of affinity for N-acetylglucosamine. The luminal surface of endothelial cells stained heavily for fucose and for a terminal sialic acid-beta-galactose disaccharide like that on the surface of cilia. The staining for carbohydrate did not vary qualitatively, and the ratio of secretory to ciliated cells did not differ with the phase of the menstrual cycle. The salpingeal epithelium in two patients with inactive endometrium did not differ from the others. The epithelium in a specimen from a patient with uterine fibroids showed foci of mucous metaplasia, containing a nonsulfated sialylated glycoconjugate. At the electron microscopic level, fucosylated glycoconjugate was visualized with a specific lectin conjugate on the surface of the secretory cells but not on the surface of ciliated and endothelial cells. Infrequent cytoplasmic granules containing mucosubstance apparently provided the cell mechanism in secretory cells for collecting and transporting material from biosynthetic sites to the glycocalyx.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008597	Menstrual Cycle	The period from onset of one menstrual bleeding (MENSTRUATION) to the next in an ovulating woman or female primate. The menstrual cycle is regulated by endocrine interactions of the HYPOTHALAMUS; the PITUITARY GLAND; the ovaries; and the genital tract. The menstrual cycle is divided by OVULATION into two phases. Based on the endocrine status of the OVARY, there is a FOLLICULAR PHASE and a LUTEAL PHASE. Based on the response in the ENDOMETRIUM, the menstrual cycle is divided into a proliferative and a secretory phase.	Endometrial Cycle,Ovarian Cycle,Cycle, Endometrial,Cycle, Menstrual,Cycle, Ovarian,Cycles, Endometrial,Cycles, Menstrual,Cycles, Ovarian,Endometrial Cycles,Menstrual Cycles,Ovarian Cycles
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D002241	Carbohydrates	A class of organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of Cn(H2O)n. The largest class of organic compounds, including STARCH; GLYCOGEN; CELLULOSE; POLYSACCHARIDES; and simple MONOSACCHARIDES.	Carbohydrate
D002923	Cilia	Populations of thin, motile processes found covering the surface of ciliates (CILIOPHORA) or the free surface of the cells making up ciliated EPITHELIUM. Each cilium arises from a basic granule in the superficial layer of CYTOPLASM. The movement of cilia propels ciliates through the liquid in which they live. The movement of cilia on a ciliated epithelium serves to propel a surface layer of mucus or fluid. (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Motile Cilia,Motile Cilium,Nodal Cilia,Nodal Cilium,Primary Cilia,Primary Cilium,Cilium,Cilia, Motile,Cilia, Nodal,Cilia, Primary,Cilium, Motile,Cilium, Nodal,Cilium, Primary
D004847	Epithelial Cells	Cells that line the inner and outer surfaces of the body by forming cellular layers (EPITHELIUM) or masses. Epithelial cells lining the SKIN; the MOUTH; the NOSE; and the ANAL CANAL derive from ectoderm; those lining the RESPIRATORY SYSTEM and the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM derive from endoderm; others (CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM and LYMPHATIC SYSTEM) derive from mesoderm. Epithelial cells can be classified mainly by cell shape and function into squamous, glandular and transitional epithelial cells.	Adenomatous Epithelial Cells,Columnar Glandular Epithelial Cells,Cuboidal Glandular Epithelial Cells,Glandular Epithelial Cells,Squamous Cells,Squamous Epithelial Cells,Transitional Epithelial Cells,Adenomatous Epithelial Cell,Cell, Adenomatous Epithelial,Cell, Epithelial,Cell, Glandular Epithelial,Cell, Squamous,Cell, Squamous Epithelial,Cell, Transitional Epithelial,Cells, Adenomatous Epithelial,Cells, Epithelial,Cells, Glandular Epithelial,Cells, Squamous,Cells, Squamous Epithelial,Cells, Transitional Epithelial,Epithelial Cell,Epithelial Cell, Adenomatous,Epithelial Cell, Glandular,Epithelial Cell, Squamous,Epithelial Cell, Transitional,Epithelial Cells, Adenomatous,Epithelial Cells, Glandular,Epithelial Cells, Squamous,Epithelial Cells, Transitional,Glandular Epithelial Cell,Squamous Cell,Squamous Epithelial Cell,Transitional Epithelial Cell
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D005187	Fallopian Tubes	A pair of highly specialized canals extending from the UTERUS to its corresponding OVARY. They provide the means for OVUM transport from the ovaries and they are the site of the ovum's final maturation and FERTILIZATION. The fallopian tube consists of an interstitium, an isthmus, an ampulla, an infundibulum, and fimbriae. Its wall consists of three layers: serous, muscular, and an internal mucosal layer lined with both ciliated and secretory cells.	Oviducts, Mammalian,Salpinges, Uterine,Salpinx, Uterine,Uterine Salpinges,Uterine Salpinx,Fallopian Tube,Uterine Tubes,Mammalian Oviduct,Mammalian Oviducts,Oviduct, Mammalian,Tube, Fallopian,Tube, Uterine,Tubes, Fallopian,Tubes, Uterine,Uterine Tube
D005260	Female		Females
D006651	Histocytochemistry	Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods.	Cytochemistry