Lectin binding sites in normal rat ovary and ENU-induced Sertoli cell tumors of the ovaries.

A panel of seven fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled lectins were used to study the distribution of specific binding sites in histologic sections of rat ovaries and ENU-induced Sertoli cell tumors (SCT) of the ovaries. Ten SCT and 5 normal ovaries derived from Berlin Druckey IV (BD-IV) rats were examined by FITC lectins. The tissues examined were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin blocks. In normal ovaries, lectin binding sites were more uniform, ordered and consistent than in ovarian SCT where some lectin staining appeared disorderly inconsistent and varied with the degree of tumor differentiation. Two lectins, (from Triticum vulgaris [WGA] and Arachis hypogaea [PNA], uniformly stained the apices of the ovarian surface epithelium and subadjacent tunica vaginalis. The ovarian stroma, oocyte nucleus, follicular and granulosa-theca cells, stained uniformly strong with succinated Con A (from Con-canavalia ensiformis). Three lectins (from Triticum vulgaris, Ulex europeaus [UEA-1] and Arachis hypogeae) accentuated the basal lamina in the SCT and normal ovarian follicles. The zona pellucida was strongly labeled with lectin derived from Triticum vulgaris, Ricinus communis (RCA) and moderately with lectin derived from Arachis hypogeae. The oviduct ampulla exhibited an intracytoplasmic strong vesicular labeling with lectins derived from Triticum vulgare, Dolichos biflorus (DBA), Glycin max (Soybean-SBA) and Arachis hypogeae. The SCT cells showed an inconsistent, irregular labeling pattern with lectins derived from Ulex europaeus, Dolichos biflorus and Soybean mostly as a coarse granular cytoplasmic labeling. Neuraminidase digestion enhanced lectin staining with PNA in normal ovary and in SCT. This data provided at list of lectin markers for distinct components of the BD-IV rat ovary and ovarian SCT.