Histochemical studies of the vestibular nerve system in the developing chick embryo. Glycoconjugates in the vestibular end organs.

Glycoconjugates of the vestibular end organs in the developing chick embryos were well defined and localized using lectins-HRP (WGA, PNA, UEA-1) and HID-AB stains. In spite of the fact that no differentiation of the otic vesicle was seen on the 4-day-old chick embryos, the luminal surface of the otic vesicle was labeled with lectins. The cupula and otoconia were labeled most intensely with lectins on the 6-day-old chick embryos. The reactivity of lectins with the cupula and otoconia was as follows: WGA greater than UEA-1 greater than PNA. As the vestibular end organs had become mature, the epithelial cells of the semicircular duct, utricle and saccule were labeled with lectins. These findings suggest that glycoconjugates play an important role in the development and formation of the vestibular end organs.