Glycoproteins histochemistry of the gills of Odontesthes bonariensis (Teleostei, Atherinopsidae)

Abstract

The histochemistry of glycoproteins (GP) in the mucous cells of the gills of the silverside Odontesthes bonariensis was identified with: (1) oxidizable vicinal diols; (2) sialic acid and some of their chain variants, carbon 7 (7C), carbon 8 (8C) or carbon 9 (9C); (3) sialic acid residues without O‐acyl substitution and with O‐acyl substitution at 7C, 8C or 9C; (4) carboxyl groups and (5) sulphate groups. A battery of seven biotinylated lectins allowed GPs sugar residues to be distinguished. Mucous cells showed the presence of neutral, sulphated and sialylated GPs. Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and Glycine max agglutinin (SBA) showed strong positive staining; Arachis hypogaea agglutinin (PNA), Ricinus communis agglutinin‐I (RCA‐I) and Triticum vulgaris agglutinin (WGA) showed moderate staining, while Ulex europaeus agglutinin‐I (UEA‐I) was completely negative.