Reactivity of peroxidase-labeled lectins in rabbit submandibular and sublingual glands.

The carbohydrate histochemistry of rabbit submandibular and sublingual glands has been examined by the use of 4 peroxidase-labeled lectins at the light microscopic level. In the submandibular gland, the striated ducts appeared to be the formations which were more reactive to all lectins. In the sublingual gland, the terminal tracts were the most reactive secreting portions, because they bound all the lectins used. The material contained in the lumen of the ducts of submandibular and sublingual glands always reacted fairly intensely. The binding of lectins to salivary glands indicated the possibility to use lectins for the explanation of the transport properties both of the striated ducts and of the terminal tracts.