Cell surface glycosyltransferase activity in normal and neoplastic intestinal epithelium of the rat.

Crypt cells were also distinguished from vilus cells by their preferential agglutination with ConA3 (7). Human fetal intestinal cells also have plasma membrane galactosyltrans ferase and are agglutinated by ConA (13). In this study we have extended our observations to the neoplastic intestinal epithelial cell in both small intestine and colon of rats. The carcinogen DMH was used to induce colon and small intestinal adenocarcinomas, which are histologically similar to human intestinal neoplasms (1 2). Using this model of neoplasia we were able to compare surface membrane glycosyltransferases and lectin agglutinability in normal undif ferentiated (crypt) and differentiated (villus) cells with dedifferentiated (neoplastic) intestinal cells.