Immunohistochemical localization of galactosyltransferase in the normal human ovary and fallopian tube.

Galactosyltransferase (UDP-galactose: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy beta-D-glucopyranose beta-(1-4) transferase) in human tissue specimens from ovaries and the corresponding fallopian tubes was localized immunohistochemically for light microscopy. An affinity-purified rabbit anti-human milk galactosyltransferase antibody was used. Intracellular galactosyltransferase was found to be localized to the juxtanuclear (Golgi) region of the secretory cells of the fallopian-tube epithelium and to the ovarian stromal cells involved in steroid-hormone production. Cell-surface galactosyltransferase was localized to ciliated cells of the fallopian-tube epithelium. During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, galactosyltransferase was found only in the Golgi regions of theca interna cells of the ovarian graafian follicle, and in the fallopian tube was found predominantly on the cilia of epithelial cells. During the luteal phase, galactosyltransferase was abundant in the Golgi regions of granulosa lutein cells of the corpus luteum, and was predominant in the secretory cells of the tubal epithelium. Galactosyltransferase was not detected on the mesothelial ovarian surface. The results demonstrate that the cellular distribution and location of galactosyltransferase correlates with phenotypic differentiation and varies during the human female hormonal cycle.