Lectin histochemistry of glycoconjugates in the feline hair follicle and hair

Ishii, M Tsukise, A Meyer, W

M. Ishii et al., Lectin histochemistry of glycoconjugates in the feline hair follicle and hair, ANN ANATOMY, 183(5), 2001, pp. 449-458

39

INGLESE

Article

Experimental Biology

ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER

0940-9602 → ACNP

183

5

2001

449 - 458

ISI

0940-9602(200109)183:5<449:LHOGIT>2.0.ZU;2-N

The distribution of glycoconjugate in the feline hair follicle and hair was studied by light and electron microscopic histochemical methods. The hair apparatus was found to contain considerable amounts of complex carbohydrate s with different saccharide residues (alpha -D-mannose, beta -D-glucose, al pha -L-fucose, beta -N-acetyl-D-glucosamine). Variations of those were dete cted in the plasma membrane of the hair follicle cells during the course of their differentiation and keratinization, namely, (alpha -D-glucose, alpha -L-fucose and beta -N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in the suprabulbar and bulbar r egions. The reaction level of sialic acid residues in the plasma membrane d ecreased in some cell layers during the course of differentiation. The results obtained from the present study indicated that interaction betw een saccharide residues of neutral carbohydrates and sialyl groups during t he anagen phase might contribute to cell keratinization in hair follicles a nd hairs. It is discussed whether the existence of glycogen in outer root s heath cells might enable these cells to provide other hair apparatus cells with energy when necessary. Moreover, it became obvious from variations in sialyl residue distribution that cell differentiation processes terminate f irst of all in Huxley's and Henle's layers within the suprabulbar region of the hair follicle, as followed by the hair cortex.