Abstract
The mucus glycoconjugates produced by conjuctival goblet cells in dry-eye patients were studied by a specific cytochemical reaction in Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Four lectins, proteins of vegetal origin which specifically bind glycosidic residues, (WGA, PNA, SBA and ConA) were used conjugated with colloidal gold as ultrastructural marker. We performed a quantitative analysis by counting the colloidal gold particles present on mucus granules. The results were compared with normal conditions. We found a decrease in sialic acid, N-acetyl-glucosamine, N-acetyl-galactosamine and galactose-N-acetyl-galactosamine and an increase in mannose. The different content of glycoconjugates in goblet cells may reflect in the change of physical and functional properties of mucus. We think these data may be useful in the search for a therapeutic mucomimetic drug.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 451-455 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Acta Ophthalmologica |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 1986 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology