Secretory glycoconjugates in the epithelium of the goat prostate.

Secretory glycoconjugates in the epithelium of the goat prostate were investigated with various electron microscopical histochemical methods that involved periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver proteinate, colloidal gold-labelled lectin and related procedures. The three types of cells in the epithelium previously differentiated with the light microscope were substantiated: mucus-producing cells, protein-secreting cells and cells intermediate between both types. These three cell types contained varying amounts of neutral glycoconjugates; the histochemical nature of these carbohydrates was determined with particular emphasis upon the histophysiological functions of the accessory sex glands.