The Study of Diversity of Carbohydrate Specificities on Rat Genital Tract and Spermatogenesis

Kwon, Heon Young; Yoon, Jong Byung; Yoo, Young Hyun

Abstract

The nature of carbohydrate in the male genital tract of the rat was studied through the carbohydrate-binding specificities of lectins. Lectins used in this study were BS-I, DBA, SBA, WGA, PNA, Cona and RCA. The results were as follows : 1. Secondary spermatocyte showed positive reactions to RCA, spermatid to PNA and RCA and sperm to WGA, PNA and ConA. The sperm in rete testis were positive to DBA, SBA, PNA, ConA and RCA while in epididymis the reactions to SBA, WGA and PNA were positive in all part and the reactions to ConA and RCA were positive only partly. 2. Cell membrane at luminal side of epithelial cell in rat genital tract showed positive reactions to DBA, WGA, and ConA in rete testis; in epididymis, the reactions to WGA and ConA were only partly positive; in vas deferens, the reactions to PNA and ConA were positive in all part and the reactions to DBA and WGA were only partly positive. 3. Cytoplasm of epithelial cell in rat genital tract showed positive reactions to DBA, WGA and ConA in rete testis; in epididymis, the reaction to WGA was positive in all part and the reaction to SBA was only partly positive; in vas deferens, the reaction to ConA was positive in all part and the reactions to BS-I and DBA were positive in some part. 4. Basal side of epithelial cell in rat genital tract showed positive reactions to DBA, WGA and ConA in rete testis; in epididymis, the reaction to WGA was positive in part and in seminal vesicle, the reaction to BS-I was partly positive. 5. Lamina propria of rat genital tract showed positive reactions to BS-I, WGA, ConA and RCA in rete testis; in epididymis, the reaction to WGA was positive in all part and the reaction to SBA was positive in some part; in seminal vesicle, the reaction to BS-I was positive. 6. Muscle layer of rat genital tract showed positive reaction to WGA in epididymis; in seminal vesicle, the reactions to BS-I and DBA were positive. 7. Adventitia of rat genital tract showed positive reaction to WGA in rete testis; in epididymis, the reactions to SBA, PNA, ConA and RCA were positive; in vas deferens, the reactions to BS-I and PNA were positive; in seminal vesicle, the reactions to BS-I and PNA were positive. In conclusion, variable lectin binding properties in the uroepithelia and the cells in the process of spermatogenesis, which were demonstrated in this study, offer the basic data for carbohydrate research in the male genital system.