Histochemical studies on lectin binding patterns in postoperative maxillary cysts.

Up to now, histochemical investigations of the goblet cells found in cases of postoperative maxillary cysts (POMC) have yielded somewhat variable results, while examinations of glycoproteins have been restricted to only a few methods. Recently, lectins, which have specificity for various carbohydrate residues, have been applied for the detection of glycoproteins. However, as far as the author is aware, no studies of POMC using lectin histochemistry have been done. Accordingly, PAS-alcian blue (pH 2.5) staining was performed on POMC with special reference to goblet cells, and then lectin histochemistry was employed. The specimens examined were sixty cases of POMC, which were obtained from the Department of Oral Surgery, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo. Goblet cells appeared blue or bluishpurple, and ciliated cells and columnar cells appeared light purplish-red by PASalcian blue staining. The ABC method was employed for lectin staining using seven kinds of lectins, i. e., Con A, WGA, SBA, DBA, RCA-I, PNA and UEA-I. Goblet cells showed positive reactions for WGA, RCA-I, PNA and UEA-I, while ciliated cells and columnar cells were positive for Con A, WGA, SBA, DBA, RCA-I and UEA-