Histochemical Detection of Glycoconjugates in the Anterior Lingual Salivary Glands of the Domestic Fowl

Glycoconjugates in secretory epithelium of the anterior lingual salivary glands of chicken have been studied by means of light microscopic histochemical methods. A series of staining procedures were employed including peroxidase labeled lectin diaminobenzidine methods and digestion techniques with neuraminidase or α amylase. The terminal portion of the anterior lingual gland consisted of mucous and seromucous cells. All the mucous cells in the glands possessed a mixture of glycoconjugates of different nature, but they could be divided into three types, on the basis of the principle type of glycoconjugates involved, namely primarily sulfated, carboxylated and neutral glycoconjugate-containing cells. The first mentioned type of cells was predominant. The presence of sialic acid, α D mannose, α D glucose and β D galactose in these glycoconjugates was confirmed. The seromucous cells found in the anterior lingual gland contained a very small amount of comparable carbohydrates predominantly in the apical cytoplasm. Possible functional activities of the glands were discussed.