Lectin-binding sites on the normal and pathological uterus of the sow

SANT`ANA F; NASCIMENTO E; GIMENO E; BARBEITO CG

REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS (1990)

Blackwell Verlag

Lugar: Uppsala; Año: 2009 vol. 44 p. 889 - 893

0936-6768

The lectin-binding pattern was compared in the normal and pathological uterus of sows during the ovarian cycle. The following biotinylated lectins were used: Con A, DBA, SBA, 3PNA, RCA-I, UEA-1 and WGA. Glycoconjugate labelling showed differences between phases of ovarian cycle and presence of morphologic lesions. Cystic endometrial hyperpla- sia increased the RCA-I reaction in the apical region of the glandular epithelium. There was higher intensity of labelling of WGA in the glandular epithelium in uteri with endometritis. In addition, increased Con A binding in the glandular epithelium and mild reduction of UEA-I reactivity in the glycocalyx of the glandular epithelium were detected in the cases of endometri- tis. The results of this study show that morphologic alterations modify the sugar pattern in the porcine uterus. These modifications in glycoconjugates may be one of the reasons for decreased fertility in sows.