Histochemical localization of protein-polysaccharides in renal tissue.
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Date
1987-03
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of proteinpolysaccharides
in the glomerular and non-glomerular regions of the nephron. The
techniques used include the digestion of kidney slices with specific polysaccharidases:
neuraminidase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC, and collagenase followed by several
cytochemical techniques to identify the glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins at the light
and electron microscope levels. Differential staining of hyaluronic acid and sulphated
glycosaminoglycans was accomplished with Alcian Blue at pH 2·5 and pH 0·5, respectively.
Sialoproteins were stained with Alcian Blue at pH 2·5. The periodic acid Schiff's reaction
technique was employed for the visualization of collagen. At the electron microscope level
the polysaccharides were identified with the periodic acid-chromic acid-silver methenamine reaction.
Our results indicated that the major polysaccharide components of the glomerular basement
membrane were sialoproteins and collagen, with smaller amounts of hyaluronic acid and
various sulphated glycosaminoglycans. Hyaluronidase digestion resulted in partial
detachment of epithelial processes from the glomerular basement membrane indicating the
hyaluronic acid may have a role in the stability of the attachment of these processes.
Tubular basement membranes also contain sialoproteins and sulphated glycosaminoglycans
but in considerably lower concentrations than the glomerular basement membrane.
Bowman's capsule appears to contain mostly sulphated glycosaminoglycans and has a
lower concentration of sialoproteins and hyaluronic acid.
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Keywords
Kidney, glycosaminoglycans, histochemistry
Citation
Saraswathi S, Tesoriero J V, Vasan N S. Histochemical localization of protein-polysaccharides in renal tissue. Journal of Biosciences. 1987 Mar; 11(1-4): 245-256.