Expression pattern of glycoconjugates in the Bidderian and ovarian follicles of the Brazilian toad Bufo ictericus analyzed by lectin histochemistry

the bidder's organ and ovary of the brazilian toad bufo ictericus were studied by light microscopy, using hematoxylin-eosin (he) and periodic acid schiff (pas) staining. the expression and distribution of carbohydrate moieties was analyzed by lectin histochemistry, using 8 lectins with different carbohydrate specificities: ulex europaeus (uea i), lens culinaris (lca), erythrina cristagalli (eca), arachis hypogaea (pna), ricinus communis (rca i), aleuria aurantia (aaa), triticum vulgaris (wga), and glycine maximum (sba). the results showed that the bidderian zona pellucida presented a-mannose, a-l-fucose, b-d-galactose, n-acetyl-d-glucosamine, and a/b-n-acetyl-galactosamine residues. the bidderian follicular cells showed the presence of b-d-galactose and n-acetyl-d-glucosamine. in the extracellular matrix, a-mannose and a/b-n-acetyl-galactosamine residues were detected. the ovarian zona pellucida showed a-l-fucose, n-acetyl-d-glucosamine, a/b-n-acetyl-galactosamine residues, and a-mannose and n-acetyl-d-glucosamine residues were detected in the follicular cells. thus, the zona pellucida in both organs contains n-acetyl-d-glucosamine, and a/b-n-acetyl-galactosamine residues. a-l-fucose residues were detected in the zona pellucida of both organs, using different lectins. considering that b-d-galactose residue was absent from ovary but present in the bidder's organ, this sugar residue may play an important role in follicle development, blocking the bidderian follicles and preventing further development of the bidder's organ into a functional ovary.