Changes in lectin-binding sites on epididymal cells during postnatal development of the mouse.

Using lectin histochemistry combined with immunohistochemistry, we recently demonstrated that the principal, clear, and basal cells in the adult mouse epididymis specifically react with UEA-I, MAL-I, and GS-IB lectins, respectively. The present study examined the distribution of the lectin-binding sites for some lectins on the epididymal epithelium during postnatal development. Galactose staining with GS-IB was first detected in some of the undifferentiated epithelial cells in mice aged 1 week, and this characteristic became specific to basal cells in mice aged 2 weeks and above. Fucose staining with UEA-I was first detected in the principal cells in mice aged 3 weeks. Staining of sialic acid with MAL-I was first detected in all undifferentiated epithelial cells in mice aged 1 week, and this characteristic became specific to the narrow and clear cells in all regions and to the principal cells in regions IV and V in mice aged 3 weeks. The results indicate that epididymal differentiation is characterized by the expression of cell- and region-specific sugar chains that appear early during postnatal development before the sperm arrives in the epididymis.