Distribution of lectin binding sites in rabbit oviduct.

The carbohydrate histochemistry of the rabbit oviduct has been examined by the use of four lectins conjugated with horseradish peroxidase as histochemical reagents. Each lectin gave a very distinct typical pattern of binding, but for each lectin there was no difference between the distribution of binding sites in ampulla and isthmus. Wheat germ lectin bound exclusively with the connective tissue of the oviduct folds; winged pea lectin was detected only in the ciliated cells; peanut lectin binding sites were visualized in the secretory cells; the binding reactivity of soybean lectin was limited to the basal part of the cilia. Although it is very difficult at present to correlate the distribution of lectin binding sites with the function of the positive cells, some hypotheses have been advanced.