Cytochemistry of sialoglycoconjugates,lysozyme, and β‐defensin in eccrine glands of porcine snout skin as studied by electron microscopy |
| |
Authors: | Kousuke Fukui Tadashi Yasui Hiroshi Gomi Hiroshi Sugiya Osamu Fujimori Wilfried Meyer Azuma Tsukise |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252‐0880, Japan;2. Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252‐0880, Japan;3. Laboratory of Anatomy and Histochemistry, Faculty of Rehabilitation Science, Nagoya Gakuin University, 1350 Kamishinanocho, Seto, Aichi 480‐1298, Japan;4. Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D‐30173 Hannover, Germany |
| |
Abstract: | In most mammals except for humanoid primates, eccrine glands are confined to the skin of a series of specific body regions. Sialic acids and antimicrobial substances exhibit various functional properties and serve as a component of nonspecific defense against micro‐organisms, respectively. In this study, the distribution of these moieties was studied by electron microscopic histochemical methods. The eccrine glandular acini consisted of two types of dark cells as well as clear cells. The secretory granules and Golgi apparatus of both types of dark cells contained sialic acid residues linked to α2‐6Gal/GalNAc. On the other hand, sialoglycoconjugates with Siα2‐3Galβ1‐4GlcNAc sequence were confined to those of the Type II dark cells. In addition, lysozyme and β‐defensin were mainly detected in the secretory granules of the Type II dark cells. These secretory products may create a defensive barrier against microbial invasion and play an essential role in preservation of the integrity of porcine snout skin as a sensory organ. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
| |
Keywords: | pig snout skin eccrine glands sialic acids antimicrobial substances cytochemistry |
|
|