The kidney of a teleost, Spinachia spinachia. II. Histochemical identification of sialic acid-containing glycoprotein and fine structure of mucus secreting cells.

Kidney cells of the marine stickleback Spinachia have been studied with histochemical methods for the demonstration of glycoconjugates. The fine structure of epithelial cells is described. Mucus threads in the nephronic tubule of sexually mature consist of neutral glycoprotein which corresponds with the secretory granules in proximal tubule segment II cells. Large lysosome-like inclusions, which also react with PAS, are present in many P II cells. All cells of the collecting duct epithelium differentiate into mucous cells in male Spinachia. The nature of their secretory products, which are well preserved by freeze-drying, is discussed. Sialylated glycoprotein is present in mucus granules and sulphated glycoprotein can be demonstrated at the apex of collecting duct cells. Collecting duct cell mucus can be digested with testicular hyaluronidase indicating that proteoglycans may be involved in the structure of macromolecules. The observations are compared with studies of mucus production in the urinary apparatus of several other vertebrates.