Bolognani Fantin A M, Menghi G, Franchini A, Bondi A M, Accili D, Fuhrman Conti A M
Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena, Italy.
Histochem J. 1989 Feb;21(2):79-88. doi: 10.1007/BF01005983.
Cell surface and cytoplasmic glycoconjugates were characterized in embryonic human explant cells (a transformed heteroploid line) cultured in iso-osmotic medium (0.137 M NaCl) and in hyperosmotic medium (0.274 M NaCl) for 10 days in order to study the changes induced in these compounds by hyperosmoticity. Cytochemical and ultracytochemical staining selective for glycoconjugates was carried out. The following results were obtained: (1) glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans and glycolipids are present on the cell surface and in the cytoplasm of the explant cells; (2) lectin histochemistry combined with glycosidase digestion demonstrated the presence of the disaccharides fucose-N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid-beta-galactose as terminal sequences; (3) histophotometric evaluation of lectin labelling showed a noticeable decrease in histochemical reactivity of adapted cells; (4) plasma membrane cell coat decreased in adapted cells, which was emphasized by ultracytochemical reactions and a rearrangement of glycolipids in the cytoplasm.
