Localization of Sugar Residues in the Stomach of Three Species of Monkeys (Tupaiidae glis, Nycticebus cocang and Callithrix jacchus) by Lectin Histochemistry

The stomach of three species of non-human primates was investigated by lectin histochemistry to clarify the staining affinity and distribution patterns of their sugar residues. All gastric regions, with little differences between the deep and superficial parts of the same region, were rich in. in N-acetylglucosamine and/or neuraminic acid. Although, the superficial regions of the gastric mucosa were scanty in N-acetylgalactosamine, aD-glucose and a -D-mannose, the deep parts of the gastric mucosa were rich in these sugars. In conclusion, there is a difference among the mucosubstances of surface and foveolar mucous cells, mucous neck cells, and gastric gland cells. This indicates heterogeneous composition of gastric mucus, or mucus molecules with variations in the degree of glycosylation of their oligosaccharide chains in the different cells which suggest that lectin binding affinity in the gastric mucosa correlated mostly to the degree of cellular differentiation.