Immunohistochemical localization of 14 kDa ?-galactoside-binding lectin in various organs of rat

Abstract

Immunohistochemical localization of 14 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin in various organs of adult rat was achieved using a monospecific antibody raised against lectin purified from rat lung. The antibody-stained cells were formed into small aggregates, thin fascicles, or thick bundles in the walls of blood vessels, gastrointestinal tracts and urogenital organs. From the patterns of distribution, as well as their organization, these immunoreactive cells were regarded as smooth muscle cells. This was confirmed by a double immunofluorescence study using a mixture of anti 14 kDa lectin and anti alpha-smooth muscle-specific actin antibodies. Strong 14 kDa lectin immunoreactivity was seen in the pericellular matrix of smooth muscle cells in intact organs as well as in detergent-treated organs from which all cellular components were extracted. From these findings, it is suggested that the 14 kDa lectin may be externalized by smooth muscle cells into their pericellular matrix and participate in the crosslinking of the complementary glycoconjugate(s) localized at that site. The macromolecular xomplex of glycoconjugates thus formed around smooth muscle cells may play a role in anchoring smooth muscle cells to the pericellular connective tissue thereby permitting the force of muscle contraction to be efficiently transmitted to the surrounding connective tissue proper.

Immunohistochemical localization of a ?-d-galactoside-binding lectin at the human maternofetal interface

“…Some of the cells in the myometrium had strong intracellular staining, whilst other smooth muscle cells showed staining only at the periphery. Similar findings have been reported with both rat and rabbit tissues (Cart et al, 1987;Wasano et al, 1990) although the reason why the lectin is located both intracellularly and extracellularly is not clear. Vascular smooth muscle showed variable staining.…”

Differential expression of Galectin-1 and Galectin-3 during first trimester human embryogenesis

“…Our data are in concordance with those obtained in mice (Poirier et al, 1992), that showed galectin-1 expression by in situ hybridization in the myotomes of the somites and in some neural cells. Expression of galectin-1 in adult muscle cells has been already documented (Southan et al, 1987;Cooper and Barondes, 1990;Wasano et al, 1990;Cooper et al, 1991;Tracey et al, 1992). Our data demonstrate that expression of galectin-1 in muscle cells can be detected already in first trimester, in full agreement with data implicating galectin-1 in muscle differentiation (Cooper et al, 1991).…”

Galectin-1 and galectin-3 in fetal development of bovine respiratory and digestive tracts

“…In rabbit and rat, abundant expression has been attributed to smooth muscle cells, as supported by the application of a monoclonal antibody against smooth muscle α-actin (Catt and Harrison 1985;Wasano et al 1990). Our study concludes that this expression pattern does not hinge on the individual organization of the tissue.…”