Assessment of Glycoconjugates Terminal Sugars Expression During Rat Skin Morphogenesis

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to determine distributions and changes of glycoconjugates terminal sugars during skin morphogenesis. Materials and Methods: using lectin histochemistry technique, 10% formalin fixed, paraffin embedded rat embryonic sections for days 12, 14, 16 of gestation (N=30) were incubated with different HRP-lectins from Lotus tetragonolobus (LTA), Maclura pomifera (MPA) and Arachis hypogaea or Peanut (PNA) that are specific for terminal a-L Fuc, Gal (β1→3) GalNAC and D-Gal(β1→3) DGalNAC respectively. On the basis of colorimetery data that was determined by blind’s method, sections were graded. SPSS statistic soft ware and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric statistical test were used to compare different embryonic stages. Results: Our results demonstrated that the reaction of ectodermal cells with LTA observed from gestational day12 (E12) was weak. This reaction increased E14 significantly (p=0.0001) and then decreased. Extracellular matrix (ECM) of mesenchyme did not react with LTA lectin. Ectodermal cells as well as ECM of mesenchyme reacted with PNA on E12 was fairly weak. It increased E14 (p=0.009). From E14 to E16 intensity staining remain the same in ectodermal cells but decreased in ECM mesenchyme (p=0.0001). Ectodermal cells and ECM of mesenchyme reacted with the MPA lectins from E12 to E16. Conclusion: According to our result, it is suggested that the distributions and changes of glycoconjugates with terminal sugars L-Fuc (a2-4) GlcNAC, Gal (β1→3) GalNAC and D-Gal (β1→3) DGalNAC be stage-regulated during rat skin morphogenesis