Galactose and fucose binding sites in anterior pituitary cells of the rat. Detection by means of biotinylated lectins.

The oligosaccharide chains of adenohypophyseal glycoprotein hormones fulfill important functions concerning their stability and biological activity. Galactose, histochemically detectable by the Peanut lectin (PNA), could be found after removal of sialic acid in cells situated mainly in the medioanterior region of the pituitary. The Ulex europaeus I lectin (UEA I) reacted with fucose containing sites predominantly in the Golgi-apparatus of nearly all cells. After incubation with neuraminidase, however, fucose may be detected also in the cytoplasm of cells of the medioanterior region. The biological significances of the results is discussed.