Lectin receptors of normal and dystrophic corneas

Abstract

In recent years, our laboratory has used lectins to detect carbohydrate-related abnormalities in dystrophic corneas and species-specific differences in the carbohydrates of normal corneas. These studies have: 1) demonstrated that abnormal glycoconjugates are present in corneas with macular and lattice dystrophy, 2) provided additional means of differentiating corneas with macular, lattice and granular dystrophy, 3) demonstrated that distinct species-specific differences are present in the glycoconjugates of normal corneas and 4) provided guidelines for the selection of an animal model for the study of corneal glycoconjugates.

Histochemical Mapping of Glycoconjugates in the Eyeball of the Buffalo (Bos Bubalis)

“…Lectin binding to the cornea in different species, e.g. calf has been studied previously by Panjwani and Baum, 1989. The results of this study are generally in accordance with their findings but there are also some differences: Panjwani and Baum, 1989 mentioned that Con A and PNA binds to the apical corneal epithelium, whereas in my results show that Con A binds throughout all epithelial layers of the cornea.…”

Lectin binding in normal donkey eyeball

“…calf, has been studied previously by Panjwani and Baum, 1989. 16 The results of this study are generally in accordance with their findings but there are also some differences.…”

“…calf, has been studied previously by Panjwani and Baum, 1989. 16 The results of this study are generally in accordance with their findings but there are also some differences. Panjwani and Baum, 10 mentioned that Con A and PNA were bound to the corneal epithelium, whereas our results showed that Con A was bound throughout all epithelial layers of the cornea.…”

“…The different staining pattern between apical and basal cells of the corneal epithelium has been described previously by several authors in different species, 6,9,24,27 and it is related to the differentiation of epithelial cell, as they move to the apical layers of the epithelium. 29 Furthermore, Con A and WGA were bound to the corneal stroma in my experiment, but no binding of this lectins was seen in the study of Panjwani and Baum, 16 who reported that PNA is the only lectin that is bound to the corneal stroma. This result is in the findings of Tuori et al, 11 and ours.…”

“…[8][9][10][11][12] In addition, by using this technique, changes in patterns of glycosylation have been observed in wounded and dystrophic corneas. 6,[13][14][15][16][17] Also, they determine the distribution of carbohydrate residues on photoreceptor cell surfaces. 12,18 Thus, Blanks and Johnson could demonstrate selective binding-sites for lectins in the developing retina, 19 as well as specific binding of peanut lectin to certain photoreceptor cells.…”