Evaluation of Lectins Conjugated to Cryptates of Europium (III) in Human Breast Tissues in Histochemistry

Lectins are glycoproteins that bind sugars specifically and reversibly. These molecules have been used as probes to aid in the diagnosis of several diseases, including neoplasia. They are usually combined with different substances with luminescent properties, among them the lanthanide cryptates. In traditional histochemical stains are used to visualize the morphology of tissues, but this method is subjective. This paper proposed an optimization technique lectin histochemistry using lectins (Con A, UEA-I, PNA and WGA) conjugated with europium (III) cryptate inorder obtain luminescent histochemical probes to allow the pathologist assistants safer diagnosis of pathologies. Histochemistry was used in biopsies of fibroadenoma, a benign tumor very incident in young women. The results indicate that glycerine can be used as material of attachment to coverslips without interfering with the emission of Eu3 + ions, furthermore showed better preservation of tissue analyzed. The conjugates Con A-Eu3+cryptate and UEA-I-Eu3+cryptate recognized glucose/mannose and L-fucose residues in fibroadenoma suggesting that this is due to the carbohydrates expression in tissues used for the experiment.