Abstract
Seven types of biotinylated lectins were used to examine glycoconjugates (GCs) expression patterns in the mucosa of the pharyngeal cavity and the oesophagus of Odontesthes bonariensis. Con-A, RCA-I, and WGA binding sites were positive for glycocalyx, epithelial cells, and mucous cells in both organs with similar reaction patterns. PNA just stained glycocalyx and epithelial cells in the mucosa in both organs. DBA, SBA, and UEA-I stained only the oesophagus, and a greater affinity to glycocalyx and the epithelial cells was observed. The results of this study were discussed and their possible functional implications were compared.
Highlights
‘Silverside’ Odontesthes bonariensis (Pisces, Atherinopsidae) is a comercially important fish species from South America which is intensively cultivated in France, Israel, Italy, and Japan (STRÜSSMANN; TAKASHIMA, 1990)
We have previously reported on the histology and histochemistry of the pharyngeal cavity and the oesophagus of ‘silverside’ (DÍAZ et al, 2006)
The female and male specimens of O. bonariensis used in this research had 24.0 ± 2.0cm in length, 180.0 ± 5.0g in weight; they were collected in Los Padres Lagoon (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), 37°56’30”S, 57°44’30”W, and immediately transported to the laboratory in containers filled with water
Summary
‘Silverside’ Odontesthes bonariensis (Pisces, Atherinopsidae) is a comercially important fish species from South America which is intensively cultivated in France, Israel, Italy, and Japan (STRÜSSMANN; TAKASHIMA, 1990). Even though O. bonariensis is considered a freshwater species, there are studies indicating that freshwater may not be its optimal environment (TSUZUKI et al, 2001). This species is perhaps among the most captured ones for commerce and sport fishing in the Argentinean “pampasic” shallow lakes. Histochemical studies have shown the usefulness of lectins as biomarkers for specific secretory functions, structural components, and changes in cells and tissues (CHAN; HO, 1999). Since no research has used lectin histochemistry in the mucosa of the pharyngeal cavity and the oesophagus of ‘silverside’, and as lectins can provide some understanding of the GCs characteristics in these organs, this study has lectin histochemistry as its basis, in order to gather information on the specific functions of mucus production
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