Different binding to squamous and columnar epithelium of the uterine cervix as a marker of epithelial differentiation.

Biotinylated lectins were used to investigate the expression of carbohydrate residues on columnar and squamous epithelium of the uterine cervix. Con A, WGA, RCA I, PNA, UEA I, DBA and SBA were used. In the native exocervical and in metaplastic squamous epithelium of the transformation zone, one group of lectins (Con A, WGA, RCA I and PNA) stained the cell periphery of all epithelial layers. A second group (UEA I, DBA and SBA) colored the cell periphery of the suprabasal cells. The basal layer was always negative. All lectins labeled the apical border and occasionally the cytoplasm of the endocervical columnar epithelium. Lectin-binding of metaplastic and native squamous epithelium could possibly be used as a marker of epithelial differentiation in normal and abnormal conditions.