Lectin histochemical study on the kidney of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic hamsters.

Lectin histochemical characteristics of the kidney of normal and streptozotocin (SZ)-induced diabetic APA hamsters were investigated. Paraffin sections of the kidney of animals killed at 1 and 3 months after SZ-injection were stained with the following 10 lectins: PNA, BPA, DBA, SBA, GSA-I, GSA-II, MPA, WGA, UEA-1 and Con A. Renal lectin binding characteristics of normal APA hamsters differed in some aspects from those in other species reported previously. In the kidney of SZ-induced diabetic APA hamsters, binding activities of some lectins increased in the affected Bowman's capsules and glomeruli as well as in degenerated epithelial cells of uriniferous tubules. Among them, GSA-II in particular exhibited strong binding activity to the degenerated epithelial cells of Bowman's capsules, distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts.