Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol. 45, 285-294, Copyright © 1997 by The Histochemical Society, Inc.


ARTICLE

N- and O-linked Oligosaccharides in the Secretory Granules of Rat Paneth Cells: An Ultrastructural Cytochemical Study

Olga Leisa, Juan F. Madrida, José Ballestab, and Francisco Hernándezb
a Department of Cell Biology and Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Vizcaya, Spain
b Section of Histology and General Embryology, Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain

Correspondence to: Juan F. Madrid, Dept. of Cell Biology and Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Univ. of the Basque Country, 48940 Leioa, Spain.


  Summary
Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Literature Cited

Paneth cells are located at the base of the intestinal glands. The origin, composition, and function of these cells have not been well established. The sharing of a common pathway of development with the goblet cells has been suggested. The aim of the present study was to explore the cytochemical composition of rat Paneth cells and to discuss a possible developmental relationship between goblet and Paneth cells. Lectins (WGA, LTA, UEA-I, AAA, and HPA) were used as a precise tool for the ultrastructural localization of carbohydrates. Several procedures were performed in combination with lectin cytochemistry: ß-elimination, a reaction that specifically removes O-linked oligosaccharides (typical of mucin-type glycoproteins of goblet cells); and treatment with peptide N-glycosidase F, an enzyme that removes N-linked oligosaccharides from glycoproteins. Secretory granules of Paneth cells showed a biphasic nature composed of an electron-lucent peripheral halo containing O-linked oligosaccharides with GalNAc and GlcNAc residues and N-linked oligosaccharides with GlcNAc residues (only sparse Fuc residues were scarcely identified in O-linked oligosaccharides), and an electron-dense core containing N- and O-linked oligosaccharides with Fuc residues. Neither GlcNAc nor GalNAc was identified. The occurrence of O-linked oligosaccharides in the Paneth cells and the biphasic nature of the secretory granules, similar to that of transitional cells intermediate between mucous and serous cells of other tissues, favor the hypothesis of a common lineage for goblet and Paneth cells. (J Histochem Cytochem 45:285-293, 1997)

Key Words: lectins, rat, Paneth cells, intestine, oligosaccharides, electron microscopy, deglycosylation, serous granules


  Introduction
Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Literature Cited

Paneth cells, originally described by Schwalbe 1872 and later by Paneth 1888 , are normally located at the base of the crypts of Lieberkühn in the small intestine of many mammals, except carnivores. They are easily recognized by a large number of eosinophilic granules located in the supranuclear portion of the cell. Electron microscopic studies (Satoh et al. 1990 ; Staley and Trier 1965 ; Hally 1958 ) have revealed the structural complexity of Paneth granules. These granules are characterized in several species, including rat and human, by an electron-lucent peripheral halo of variable thickness surrounding a large electron-dense core (Satoh et al. 1990 ).

The functions of the Paneth cells have not been clearly established. However, it has been demonstrated that Paneth cells produce and secrete antibacterial agents (lysozyme, cryptidin, and immunoglobulin A), hydrolases, lipases, and growth factors and modulators (Desai et al. 1991 ; Quellette and Lualdi 1990 ; Saito et al. 1988 ; Lechene de la Porte et al. 1986 ; Poulsen et al. 1986 ; Senegas-Balas et al. 1984 ; Erlandsen et al. 1974 , Erlandsen et al. 1976 ; Erlandsen and Parsons 1973 ). The granules also contain a zinc-binding protein (Sawada et al. 1994 ). It has been suggested that goblet and Paneth cells share a common pathway of development (Kedinger et al. 1988 ; Lopez-Lewellyn and Erlandsen 1980 ; Lopez-Lewellyn 1979 ).

Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins that bind specifically to carbohydrate groups (Goldstein and Hayes 1978 ). They have been widely used in combination with enzymes for in situ characterization of the carbohydrates of glycoproteins (Danguy et al. 1994 ; Menghi and Matterazzi 1994; Spicer and Schulte 1998, Spicer and Schulte 1992 ). Oligosaccharide composition of the glycoproteins of the intestinal epithelial cells has been investigated by lectin histochemistry, with special attention to goblet and absorptive cells (Brinck et al. 1995 ; Madrid et al. 1989 ; Calderó et al. 1988 ; Skutelsky et al. 1987 ; Etzler and Branstrator 1974 ). Although Paneth cells share ultrastructural characteristics typical of serous cells (large apical secretory granules and abundant basal rough endoplasmic reticulum), early histochemical studies revealed that they contain a mucoid material (Herzog 1937 ). Paneth cells are reactive to PAS and Alcian blue techniques (Sheahan and Jervis 1976 ; Selzman and Liebelt 1962 ) in a similar manner to goblet cells. Paneth cells have also been demonstrated by lectin histochemistry to contain carbohydrates (Evans et al. 1994 ; Madrid et al. 1989 ).

The aim of the present study was to determine the oligosaccharide composition of the glycoproteins of the secretory granules of Paneth cells. We have investigated both the nature of the carbohydrates and the nature of the linkage between oligosaccharide chains and protein core, to obtain information that could illustrate the possible common origin of Paneth and goblet cells. To obtain these data, lectin staining was combined at the light and electron microscopic levels with the following methods: (a) ß-elimination (chemical deglycosylation), which removes protein-carbohydrate linkage of the O-glycosidic type (Ono et al. 1983 ); and (b) peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase-F), which removes N-linked oligosaccharides (Lucoq et al. 1987 ).


  Materials and Methods
Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Literature Cited

Reagents
Polyethylene glycol (MW 20,000), sodium citrate, potassium carbonate, sodium ascorbate, and tetrachloroauric acid were obtained from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). Bovine serum albumin (BSA), 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB); gold-labeled (10-nm) trypsin inhibitor (ovomucoid), GlcNAc, N-acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc), fucose (Fuc), Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA), Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I), Triticum vulgaris agglutinin (WGA), Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin (LTA), horseradish peroxidase labeled (HRP) HPA, UEA-I-HRP, LTA-HRP, and WGA-HRP were purchased from Sigma (Poole, Dorset, UK). Endo-ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase F/peptide N-glycosidase F from Flavobacterium meningosepticum, Aleuria aurantia agglutinin (AAA)-digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled lectin, anti-DIG sheep antibody, anti-DIG mouse antibody, anti-DIG-HRP-labeled goat antibody, and DIG antibody labeling kit were from Boehringer Mannheim (Barcelona, Spain). Goat anti-mouse IgG+M-gold complex (15 nm) and donkey anti-sheep IgG-gold complex (15 nm) were from Biocell (Cardiff, UK). The carbohydrate binding specificity of the lectins is summarized in Table 1.


 
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Lectin affinity of the granules of Paneth cells.a

Tissue Sample and Preparation
Seven adult Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed under ether anesthesia and a portion of the ileum was resected. The guidelines from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Alimentation of Spain for care and use of laboratory animals were followed.

For light microscopy, tissue samples were fixed in 10% formalin in PBS, pH 7.4, for 6 hr and embedded in paraffin.

For conventional electron microscopy, specimens were immediately immersed in ice-cold fixative containing 1.25% glutaraldehyde and 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4), for 5-6 hr, at 4C. Then the tissue blocks were postfixed in a 1% osmium tetroxide solution in the cacodylate buffer for 90 min, washed in PBS, and embedded in Epon 812. For ultrastructural cytochemistry, tissue samples were immersed in 2% glutaraldehyde in PBS for 2 hr (Roth 1983a ) and embedded in Lowicryl K4M at -30C (Carlemalm et al. 1982 ). Ultrathin sections were mounted on formvar-coated nickel grids.

Preparation of Lectin-Gold Complexes
Monodisperse colloidal gold solutions with a mean particle diameter of 14 nm were prepared according to Frens 1973 . Mean particle diameter was checked by an IMCO 10 image analyzer computer (Kontron Bildanalyse; Eching, Germany) with Microm Image Processing Software (Microm; Barcelona, Spain). HPA- and UEA-I-gold complexes were prepared as reported previously (Martínez-Menárguez et al. 1993 : Madrid et al. 1990 ).

Preparation of Lectin-DIG Complexes
HPA-, UEA-I-, and LTA-DIG complexes were prepared according to the DIG antibody labeling kit from Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica. The complexes were prepared by chemical coupling of DIG-NHS (digoxigenin-3-O-succinyl-{epsilon}-aminocaproic acid-N-hydroxysuccinamide ester) to the amino group of the lectins. DIG-NHS was mixed with HPA, UEA-I, or LTA. The DIG-lectin complexes were purified with a Sephadex G-25 column and samples with a higher absorbance at 280 nm were selected (Martínez-Menárguez et al. 1993 ).

Cytochemical Labeling
Light Microscopy. Histochemical staining with HRP-labeled lectins (WGA, HPA, UEA-I, and LTA) was performed as reported previously (Madrid et al. 1989 , Madrid et al. 1990 ). AAA-DIG-la beled lectin was also used according to Sata et al. 1990 and Martínez-Menárguez et al. 1993 . The sections were incubated with the DIG-labeled lectin and then with anti-DIG-HRP-labeled goat antibody. Finally, in the two methods, HRP was developed with DAB and H2O2.

Electron Microscopy. Colloidal gold was the marker selected for the ultrastructural studies. For lectin cytochemistry one-step, two-step, and three-step methods were used. (a) The one-step method was used for HPA- and UEA-I-gold complex as previously described (Madrid et al. 1990 , Madrid et al. 1994 ; Martínez-Menárguez et al. 1993 ). The dilution of the lectin gold complex was 1:25 for HPA-gold and 1:8 for UEA-I-gold complex. (b) The two-step method was used for WGA (Castells et al. 1992 ; Madrid et al. 1990 ; Roth 1983a , Roth 1983b ; Geoghegan and Ackerman 1977 ). As second layer, ovomucoid-gold complex was used (dilution 1:50). The concentration of the lectin was 25 µg/ml. (c) The three-step method has been previously reported (Castells et al. 1994 ; Madrid et al. 1994 ; Martínez-Menárguez et al. 1993 ). The DIG-labeled lectins used were AAA (20 µg/ml), UEA-I (1:4), HPA (1:4), and LTA (undiluted). The second layer was either unlabeled anti-DIG mouse antibody (5 µg/ml for HPA; 20 µg/ml for LTA) or unlabeled anti-DIG sheep antibody (7 µg/ml for UEA-I; 5 µg/ml for AAA). The corresponding third layers were goat anti-mouse IgG+M-gold conjugates (1:20 for HPA; 1:5 for LTA) and donkey anti-sheep IgG-gold complex (1:8 for UEA-I; 1:10 for AAA).

Controls. The following controls were used: (a) substitution of conjugated and unconjugated molecules (WGA-HRP, HPA-HRP, LTA-HRP, UEA-I-HRP, AAA-DIG, WGA, HPA-DIG, LTA-DIG, UEA-I-DIG, HPA-gold, UEA-I-gold, ovomucoid-gold, anti-mouse IgG+M-gold, anti-sheep IgG-gold, anti-DIG-HRP and unlabeled anti-DIG antibodies) by the corresponding buffer; and (b) preincubation of the lectins with the corresponding hapten sugar inhibitor (GlcNAc for WGA, GalNAc for HPA, and Fuc for AAA, LTA, and UEA-I) used at a concentration of 0.4 M.

Chemical Treatments
Chemical Deglycosylation (ß-elimination). Paraffin sections were treated with 0.5 N NaOH in 70% ethanol at 4C for 7 or 14 days according to Ono et al. 1983 . Sections from rat testis were used as control. After an adequate ß-elimination procedure, HPA labeling was rendered negative on sections of rat testis (Martínez-Menárguez et al. 1993 ).

Acid Hydrolysis. Sections were immersed in 0.1 M HCl for 2-3 hr at 82C to remove sialic acid residues (Madrid et al. 1994 ). Human gallbladder sections were used as control. Acid hydrolysis rendered PNA labeling positive in the secretory granules of principal cells (Madrid et al. 1994 ).

Enzyme Treatment
The endo-ß-acetylglucosaminidase F/peptide N-glycosidase F (Endo F/PNGase F) pretreatment was performed at light and electron microscopic levels as reported previously (Martínez-Menárguez et al. 1993 ; Lucoq et al. 1987 ). The tissue sections were incubated with 6 U/ml of Endo F/PNGase F diluted in 0.1 M Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM EDTA, pH 9, for 3 days. At this pH, PNGase-F activity predominated over Endo F activity. In this way, cleavage of ß-aspartyl glycosyl linkage (GlcNAc ß-1-N-Asn) was produced. Rat testis sections were used as control. PNGase-F activity renders rat testis negative to AAA (Martínez-Menárguez et al. 1993 ).


  Results
Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Literature Cited

Conventional Electron Microscopy
A previous conventional electron microscopic study was realized to observe the ultrastructure of secretory granules of Paneth cells. These granules showed a variable morphology, including bizonal and electron-lucent granules. Bizonal granules were the most common. They were composed of an electron-dense core and an electron-lucent peripheral halo. This halo was usually narrow, except in a pole of the granule where it was enlarged, originating a cap-like structure (Figure 1). Granules lacking this cap (with only a narrow electron-lucent peripheral halo) were also observed. These could represent granules with a different sectioning plane. Electron-lucent granules were usually smaller and might represent sections through the cap.



View larger version (213K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Paneth cell granules. Most granules show a bizonal structure, with an electron-dense core and an electron-lucent peripheral halo. Some granules show an enlarged electron-lucent area, which is a cap-like structure (c). Electron-lucent granules are also observed (arrows). These figures could represent granules sectioned through the cap of the bizonal granules. Bar = 1 µm.

Histochemistry
N-Acetylgalactosamine. At the light microscopic level, Paneth cells were moderately labeled by HPA (Figure 2a). After ß-elimination, HPA staining was low or negative (Figure 2b). An increase in staining was observed after PNGase-F pretreatment (Table 1; Figure 2c). Combination of ß-elimination and PNGase-F abolished the staining. Microvilli of the absorptive cells stained intensely with HPA. PNGase-F predigestion abolished this reactivity and was considered as an internal control of the activity of the enzyme.



View larger version (177K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. (a) HPA-HRP. Paneth cells (arrows) are moderately reactive. Microvilli are also stained (arrowheads). Normarski interference optics. (b) ß-elimination/HPA-HRP. After ß-elimination pretreatment, HPA-staining was low or negative. Arrows, Paneth cells. Normarski interference optics. (c) PNGase-F/HPA-HRP. PNGase-F pretreatment increased HPA staining. Note that microvilli are now unreactive. Arrows, Paneth cells. Normarski interference optics. (d) HPA-DIG/mouse anti-DIG/anti-mouse-gold. Gold granules are deposited over the electron-lucent peripheral halo. Some granules are close to the interface with the electron-dense core and to the granule membrane. Bars: a = 17 µm; b = 14 µm; c = 16 µm; d = 0.2 µm.

At the ultrastructural level, labeling was observed in the electron-lucent peripheral halo (Figure 2d). Gold granules were mainly located close to the granule membrane or to the interface between the electron-lucent and electron-dense regions (Figure 2d).

Fucose. At the light microscopic level, Paneth cells stained intensely with UEA-I (Figure 3a). After PNGase-F or ß-elimination pretreatment, UEA-I staining decreased (Table 1; Figure 3b). Low reactivity was observed with LTA, whereas AAA moderately stained Paneth cells. No modification of LTA and AAA reactivity was observed after PNGase-F pretreatment. After ß-elimination, LTA was rendered negative and AAA staining decreased. The three lectins were unreactive when the same sections were pretreated with the ß-elimination procedure and PNGase-F.



View larger version (189K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. (a) UEA-I-HRP. Paneth cells (arrows) are strongly reactive. Intense staining is also observed in goblet cells (arrowheads). Normarski interference optics. (b) PNGase-F/UEA-I-HRP. After PNGase-F pretreatment, UEA-I staining is decreased; goblet cells remain positive (arrowheads). Arrows, Paneth cells. Normarski interference optics. (c) UEA-I-DIG/sheep anti-DIG/anti-sheep-gold. The electron-dense core is specifically labeled. (d) PNGase-F/UEA-I-DIG/sheep anti-DIG/anti-sheep-gold. After PNGase-F, UEA-I labeling decreases. The electron-lucent peripheral halo of the granules is unreactive. Bars: a,b = 17 µm; c,d = 0.2 µm.

At the electron microscopic level, UEA-I labeled the electron-dense core of secretory granules of Paneth cells (Figure 3c). At this level, a decrease of labeling was observed after PNGase-F pretreatment (Figure 3d). Sparse labeling observed with LTA was detected in the electron-lucent peripheral halo (Figure 4). AAA labeled the electron-dense cores of secretory granules (Figure 5).



View larger version (77K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. LTA-DIG/mouse anti-DIG/anti-mouse-gold. The electron-lucent peripheral halo of the granules is weakly labeled. No reaction is detected over the electron-dense area of the granules. Bar = 0.2 µm.

Figure 5. AAA-DIG/sheep anti-DIG/anti-sheep-gold. The electron-dense cores are moderately labeled. Bar = 0.3 µm.

N-Acetylglucosamine. At the light microscopic level, WGA showed a strong affinity for Paneth cells (Figure 6a). No modification of the WGA binding pattern was observed after acid hydrolysis, thus indicating that WGA recognized GlcNAc. A slight decrease in staining was observed after ß-elimination or PNGase-F pretreatment. The combination of the two procedures completely abolished this staining (Table 1).



View larger version (98K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 6. (a) WGA-HRP. Paneth cells are strongly reactive (arrows). Goblet cells and microvilli are also stained. (b) WGA/ovomucoid-gold. Reactivity is specifically localized in the electron-lucent peripheral halo of secretory granules. Bars: a = 14 µm; b = 0.15 µm.

At the ultrastructural level, WGA labeling was observed in the electron-lucent peripheral halo of secretory granules (Figure 6b).


  Discussion
Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Literature Cited

GalNAc residues interact specifically with HPA (Piller et al. 1990 ; Laboisse and Bogomoletz 1989 ; Roth 1984 ). Reactivity to HPA was concentrated in the electron-lucent peripheral halo of secretory granules. The ß-elimination procedure almost abolished HPA labeling. This suggests that GalNAc residues are located at the non-reducing terminus of O-linked oligosaccharides. However, pretreatment with PNGase-F increased the labeling. It can therefore be assumed that removal of N-linked oligosaccharides with PNGase-F increases the accessibility of the lectin to the GalNAc residues of O-linked oligosaccharides.

Fuc residues were detected with UEA-I, LTA, and AAA (Osawa and Tsuji 1987 ; Yamashita et al. 1985 ; Sugii and Kabat 1982 ; Pereira and Kabat 1974 ). LTA labeling was restricted to the electron-lucent peripheral halo of secretory granules. Because ß-elimination pretreatment abolished LTA staining, Fuc residues contained in the clear halo might be included in O-linked oligosaccharides. Fuc residues were also identified in the electron-dense core of the granules with UEA-I and AAA. The decrease in UEA-I labeling after ß-elimination and/or PNGase-F pretreatment suggests that Fuc residues are contained in both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. The ß-elimination decreased AAA labeling, thus indicating the presence of Fuc in O-linked oligosaccharides. The staining was abolished when the two pretreatments were performed before AAA labeling (Table 1), suggesting that Fuc residues identified by AAA are also located in N-linked oligosaccharides. PNGase-F pretreatment did not modify AAA labeling. This finding indicates that the removal of N-linked oligosaccharides (which contain terminal Fuc residues) with PNGase-F could increase the accessibility to Fuc residues of the remaining O-linked oligosaccharides. The reasons for the different binding patterns of AAA and UEA-I with respect to LTA in Paneth cells cannot be clearly explained with the present information on their carbohydrate binding affinities reported by biochemical studies (Osawa and Tsuji 1987 ; Yamashita et al. 1985 ; Sugii and Kabat 1982 ; Pereira and Kabat 1974 ).

WGA has affinity for GlcNAc and sialic acid (Osawa and Tsuji 1987 ; Debray et al. 1981 ). Acid hydrolysis removes sialic acid from the tissue (Madrid et al. 1994 ; Schauer 1982 ). This biochemical procedure was preferred to neuraminidase predigestion because of its broader spectrum of action. Neuraminidases have different preferences for the different linkages of sialic acid, depending on the origin of the enzyme. In previous studies we have not found differences between acid hydrolysis and neuraminidases from Clostridium perfringens and Arthrobacter ureafaciens (Madrid et al. 1994 ). WGA staining was not modified when acid hydrolysis pretreatment was performed, indicating that, in Paneth cells, WGA binds to GlcNAc residues. WGA labeling was decreased with ß-elimination or PNGase-F pretreatment and was abolished when the two procedures were used before lectin labeling. These data indicate that GlcNAc residues are contained both in N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides with terminal GlcNAc residues are localized in the electron-lucent peripheral halo. Affinity of Paneth cells to pokeweed lectin, which preferentially binds to (GlcNAc)n (Yokoyama et al. 1978 ), has been previously reported (Evans et al. 1994 ) at the light microscopic level.

The precise localization of the different carbohydrates performed in the present study enables us to suggest that the biphasic structure of the secretory granules of Paneth cells is not merely a morphological finding but is also a consequence of its cytochemical composition. We have found different oligosaccharide chains, probably belonging to different glycoproteins, in the two compartments. The electron-dense core contains glycoproteins with N- and/or O-linked oligosaccharides with terminal Fuc residues, whereas the electron-lucent halo contains glycoproteins with O-linked oligosaccharides with terminal GalNAc residues and N- and/or O-linked oligosaccharides with terminal GlcNAc residues. Lysozyme has been the most sought-after component (Mathan et al. 1987 ; Erlandsen et al. 1974 ; Erlandsen and Parsons 1973 ), being largely confined to the electron-dense core. Unfortunately, no information about the localization of most of the components of the secretory granules of Paneth cells is available. However, the existence of two compartments with different compositions within the granules is not unusual. Cells containing biphasic granules with different oligosaccharide composition of the electron-lucent and electron-dense areas have also been reported in both respiratory and digestive tracts (Castells et al. 1992 , Castells et al. 1994 ; Madrid et al. 1990 ). In these systems, the cells with biphasic granules have been considered to be transitional between mucous and serous cells, sharing characteristics of both. The composition of electron-lucent area resembles that of mucous cells, whereas that of the electron-dense areas is similar to the serous cells (Castells et al. 1992 , Castells et al. 1994 ; Madrid et al. 1990 ). The validity of the concept of mucous and serous cells has been discussed by Schulte and Spicer 1983 , who stated that not only the morphology but also the cytochemical composition should be considered in classification of the cells. Our findings in Paneth cells, typically considered as serous cells, demonstrating the presence of O-linked oligosaccharides [which are typical of mucin-type glycoproteins of the goblet cells (Slomiany et al. 1980 )] and the biphasic nature of the granules (in a similar way to that of intermediate cells of other tissues) enables us to suggest the existence of a relationship with goblet cells. Moreover, the occurrence of cells intermediate between Paneth and goblet cells has been reported (Lopez-Lewellyn and Erlandsen 1980 ; Througton and Trier 1969 ). These intermediate cells could indicate that goblet and Paneth cells share a common pathway of development (Lopez-Lewellyn 1979 ). Furthermore, Paneth cells containing mucous granules that are discharged during maturation have also been described (Mathan et al. 1987 ).

In summary, we have shown the biphasic nature of the secretory granules of Paneth cells, describing a different glycidic composition in the electron-dense core and electron-lucent peripheral halo by ultrastructural cytochemistry. The electron-lucent peripheral halo contains GalNAc residues in O-linked oligosaccharides, and GlcNAc as terminal residue in both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. The electron-dense core shows Fuc residues in N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. Sparse Fuc residues have also been demonstrated in the O-linked oligosaccharides of the electron-lucent halo. The results obtained enable us to hypothesize the existence of a common lineage with the goblet cell, which would originate from the stem cells according to the unitarian theory of Cheng and Leblond 1974 .


  Acknowledgments

We are greatly indebted to Ms C. Otamendi, Ms M.D. López-López, Mr J. Moya, Ms M.C. González, and Mr J.A. Madrid for excellent technical assistance.

Supported by grants PB 93-1123 from the Spanish DGICYT and UPV 075.327-EC236/95 from the University of the Basque Country. OL is supported by a fellowship from the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (Spain).

Received for publication May 20, 1996; accepted September 24, 1996.


  Literature Cited
Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Literature Cited

Brinck V, Bosbach R, Korabiowska M, Schauer A, Gabius HJ (1995) Lectin-binding sites in the epithelium of normal human appendix vermiformis and in acute appendicitis. Histol Histopathol 10:61-70[Medline]

Calderó J, Campo E, Calomarde X, Torra M (1988) Distribution and changes of glycoconjugates in rat colonic mucosa during development. A histochemical study. Histochemistry 90:261-270[Medline]

Carlemalm E, Garavito M, Villiger W (1982) Resin development for electron microscopy and analysis of embedding at low temperature. J Microsc 126:123-143

Castells MT, Ballesta J, Madrid JF, Martínez-Menárguez JA, Avilés M (1992) Ultrastructural localization of glycoconjugates in human bronchial glands: the subcellular organization of N- and O-linked oligosaccharide chains. J Histochem Cytochem 40:265-274[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Castells MT, Madrid JF, Avilés M, Martínez-Menárguez JA, Ballesta J (1994) Cytochemical characterization of sulfo- and sialoglycoconjugates of human laryngeal glandular cells. J Histochem Cytochem 42:485-496[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Cheng H, Leblond CP (1974) Origin, differentiation and renewal of the four main epithelial cell types in the mouse small intestine. V. Unitarian theory of the origin of the four epithelial cell types. Am J Anat 141:537-562[Medline]

Danguy A, Akif F, Pajak B, Gabius HJ (1994) Contribution of carbohydrate histochemistry to glycobiology. Histol Histopathol 9:155-171[Medline]

Debray H, Decout D, Strecker G, Spik G, Montreuil J (1981) Specificity of twelve lectins towards oligosaccharides and glycopeptides related to N-glycosylproteins. Eur J Biochem 117:41-55[Abstract]

Desai SJ, Mulherkar R, Wagle AS, Deo MG (1991) Ontogeny of enhancing factor in mouse intestines and skin. Histochemistry 96:371-374[Medline]

Erlandsen SL, Parsons JA (1973) Immunochemical localization of lysozyme in the small intestine of man using the unlabeled antibody enzyme method. J Histochem Cytochem 21:405-415

Erlandsen SL, Parsons JA, Taylor TD (1974) Ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of lysozyme in the Paneth cells of man. J Histochem Cytochem 22:401-413[Medline]

Erlandsen SL, Rodning CB, Montero C, Parsons JA, Lewis EA, Wilson JD (1976) Immunocytochemical identification and localization of immunoglobulin A within Paneth cells of the rat small intestine. J Histochem Cytochem 24:1085-1092[Abstract]

Etzler ME, Branstrator ML (1974) Differential localization of cell surface and secretory components in rat intestinal epithelium by use of lectins. J Cell Biol 62:329-343[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Evans GS, Chwalinski S, Owen G, Booth C, Singh A, Poten CS (1994) Expression of pokeweed lectin binding in murine intestinal Paneth cells. Epithel Cell Biol 3:7-15[Medline]

Frens G (1973) Controlled nucleation for the regulation of the particle size in monodisperse gold suspensions. Nature [Phys Sci] 241:20-22

Geoghegan WD, Ackerman GA (1977) Adsorbtion of horseradish peroxidase, ovomucoid and anti-immunoglobulin to colloidal gold for the indirect detection of concanavalin A, wheat germ and goat anti-human immunoglobulin G on cell surfaces at the electron microscopic level: a new method theory and application. J Histochem Cytochem 25:1187-1200[Abstract]

Goldstein IJ, Hayes CE (1978) The lectins: carbohydrate-binding proteins of plants and animals. Adv Carbohydr Chem Biochem 35:127-140[Medline]

Hally AD (1958) The fine structure of the Paneth cell. J Anat 92:268-277[Medline]

Herzog AJ (1937) The Paneth cell. Am J Pathol 13:351-360

Kedinger M, Simon-Assmann P, Bouziges F, Haffer K (1988) Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in intestinal epithelial differentiation. Scand J Gastroenterol 23:62-69

Laboisse C, Bogomoletz WV (1989) Les mucines: des glycoprotéines en quetê de reconnaissance. Ann Pathol 9:175-181[Medline]

Lechene de la Porte P, Lafont H, Lombardo D (1986) Immunocytochemical localization of pancreatic secretagogue. Virchows Arch [A] 373:97-117

Lopez-Lewellyn J (1979) Morphometric analysis of a polarized cell: the intestinal Paneth cell. J Histochem Cytochem 27:1554-1556[Medline]

Lopez-Lewellyn J, Erlandsen SL (1980) Cytodifferentiation of the rat Paneth cell: an immunocytochemical investigation in suckling and weanling animals. Am J Anat 158:285-297[Medline]

Lucoq JM, Berger EG, Roth J (1987) Detection of terminal N-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues in the Golgi apparatus using galactosyltransferase and endoglucosaminidase F/peptide N-glycosidase F: adaptation of a biochemical approach to electron microscopy. J Histochem Cytochem 35:67-74[Abstract]

Madrid JF, Ballesta J, Castells MT, Hernández F (1990) Glycoconjugate distribution in the human fundic mucosa revealed by lectin- and glycoprotein-gold cytochemistry. Histochemistry 95:179-187[Medline]

Madrid JF, Ballesta J, Castells MT, Marín JA, Pastor LM (1989) Characterization of glycoconjugates in the intestinal mucosa of vertebrates by means of lectin histochemistry. Acta Histochem Cytochem 22:1-14

Madrid JF, Castells MT, Martínez-Menárguez JA, Avilés M, Hernánedez F, Ballesta J (1994) Subcellular characterization of glycoproteins in the principal cells of human gallbladder. A lectin cytochemical study. Histochemistry 101:195-204[Medline]

Martínez-Menárguez JA, Avilés M, Madrid JF, Castells MT, Ballesta J (1993) Glycosylation in Golgi apparatus of early spermatids of rat. A high resolution lectin cytochemical study. Eur J Cell Biol 61:21-33[Medline]

Mathan M, Hughes J, Whitehead R (1987) The morphogenesis of the human Paneth cell. An immunocytochemical ultrastructural study. Histochemistry 87:91-96[Medline]

Menghi G, Materazzi G (1994) Exoglycosidases and lectins as sequencing approaches of salivary gland oligosaccharides. Histol Histopathol 9:173-183[Medline]

Ono K, Katsuyama T, Hotchi M (1983) Histochemical application of mild alkaline hydrolysis for selective elimination of O-glycosidically linked glycoproteins. Stain Technol 58:309-312[Medline]

Osawa T, Tsuji T (1987) Fractionation and structural assessment of oligosaccharides and glycopeptides by use of immobilized lectins. Annu Rev Biochem 56:21-42[Medline]

Paneth J (1888) Über die secerniereden Zellen des Dünndarm-Epithels. Arch Mikrosk Anat 31:113-191

Pereira MEA, Kabat EA (1974) Blood group specificity of the lectin Lotus tetragonolobus. Ann NY Acad Sci 234:301-305[Medline]

Piller V, Piller F, Cartron JP (1990) Comparison of the carbohydrate-binding specificities of seven N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-recognizing lectins. Eur J Biochem 191:461-466[Abstract]

Poulsen SS, Nexo E, Skov Olsen P, Hess J, Kirkegaard P (1986) Immunohistochemical localisation of epidermal growth factor in rat and man. Histochemistry 85:389-394[Medline]

Quellette AJ, Lualdi JC (1990) A novel mouse gene family coding for cationic, cysteine-rich peptides: regulation in small intestine and cells of myeloid origin. J Biol Chem 265:9831-9837[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Roth J (1984) Cytochemical localization of terminal N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residues in cellular compartments of intestinal goblet cells: implications for the topology of O-glycosylation. J Cell Biol 98:399-406[Abstract]

Roth J (1983a) Application of lectin-gold complexes for electron microscopic localization of glycoconjugates on thin sections. J Histochem Cytochem 31:987-999[Abstract]

Roth J (1983b) Applications of immunocolloids in light microscopy. II. Demonstration of lectin-binding sites in paraffin sections by the use of lectin-gold or glycoprotein-gold complexes. J Histochem Cytochem 31:547-552[Abstract]

Saito H, Kasajima T, Masuda A, Imai Y, Ishikawa M (1988) Lysozyme localization in human gastric and duodenal epithelium: an immunocytochemical study. Cell Tissue Res 251:307-313[Medline]

Sata T, Zuber C, Roth J (1990) Lectin-digoxigenin conjugates: a new hapten system for glycoconjugate cytochemistry. Histochemistry 94:1-11[Medline]

Satoh Y, Yamano M, Matsuda M, Ono K (1990) Ultrastructure of Paneth cells in the intestine of various mammals. J Electron Microsc Tech 16:69-80[Medline]

Sawada M, Horiguchi Y, Abujiang P, Miyake N, Kitamura Y, Midorika O, Hiai H (1994) Monoclonal antibodies to a zinc-binding protein of rat Paneth cells. J Histochem Cytochem 42:467-472[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Schauer R (1982) Chemistry, metabolism and biological functions of sialic acid. Adv Carbohydr Chem Biochem 40:131-234[Medline]

Schwalbe G (1872) Beiträge zur kenntniss der Drüsen in den Darmwandungen, insbesondere der Brunner'schen Drüsen. Arch Mikrosk Anat 8:92-140

Schulte BA, Spicer SS (1983) Light microscopic detection of sugar residues in glycoconjugates of salivary glands and the pancreas with lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates I. Mouse. Histochem J 15:1217-1229[Medline]

Selzman H, Liebelt RA (1962) Paneth cell granule of mouse intestine. J Cell Biol 15:136-139[Free Full Text]

Senegas-Balas F, Balas D, Verger R, de Caro A, Figarella C, Ferrato F, Lechene P, Bertrand C, Ribet A (1984) Immunohistochemical localization of intestinal phospholipase A2 in rat Paneth cells. Histochemistry 81:581-584[Medline]

Sheahan D, Jervis HR (1976) Comparative histochemistry of gastrointestinal mucosubstances. Am J Anat 146:103-132[Medline]

Skutelsky E, Goyal V, Alroy J (1987) The use of avidin-gold complex for light microscopic localization of lectin receptors. Histochemistry 86:291-295[Medline]

Slomiany BL, Murty VLN, Slomiany A (1980) Isolation and characterization of oligosaccharides from rat colonic mucus glycoproteins. J Biol Chem 262:1596-1601[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Spicer SS, Schulte BA (1992) Diversity of cell glycoconjugates shown histochemically: a perspective. J Histochem Cytochem 40:1-38[Free Full Text]

Spicer SS, Schulte BA (1988) Detection and differentiation of glycoconjugates in various cell types by lectin histochemistry. Basic Appl Histochem 32:307-328[Medline]

Staley MW, Trier JS (1965) Morphologic heterogeneity of mouse Paneth cell granules before and after secretory stimulation. Am J Anat 117:365-384[Medline]

Sugii S, Kabat EA (1982) Further immunochemical studies on the combining sites of Lotus tetragonolobus and Ulex europaeus I and II lectins. Carbohydr Res 99:99-101[Medline]

Througton WD, Trier JS (1969) Paneth and goblet cell renewal in mouse duodenal crypts. J Cell Biol 41:251-268[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Yamashita K, Kochibe N, Ohkura T, Ueda I, Kobata A (1985) Fractionation of L-fucose-containing oligosaccharides on immobilized Aleuria aurantia lectin. J Biol Chem 260:4688-4693[Abstract]

Yokoyama K, Terao T, Osawa T (1978) Carbohydrate-binding specificity of pokeweed mitogens. Biochim Biophys Acta 538:384-396[Medline]