The use of flurorescein investigations with concanavalin A, Lens culinaris lectin and Ricinus communis lectin.

Investigations on methods for the utilization of fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labelled Concanavalin A, Lens culinaris lectin and Ricinus communis lectin for immunohistological demonstration as simple sugar moieties are reported. The stainings were carried out on rabbit erythrocytes. Ehrlich ascitee tumor cells and various mammalian tissues. Optimum results were obtained in living cells and native cryostate tissue sections. The influence of different fixing agents and conditions of fixation on the degree of tissue flurorescence were studied. Generally the fluorescense decreased by aldehyde fixation. Similar effect was observed following fixation by heat. Furthermore, changes in the pattern of fluorescence depending on the type of tissue and utilized lectin were observed after aldehyde fixation. The degree of tissue fluorescence was fairly independent of the pH value. The specificity of the particular reactions for saccharide demonstration was shown; glycerol is capable of a differently strong "hapten-like" action.