Oviductal glycoproteins in sexually immature mice.

The expression of oviductal glycoproteins was studied in prepubertal mice by lectin overlay of electrophoretically separated cellular extracts. Two N-acetylgalactosamine specific lectins [Maclura pomifera (MPA), and Ricinus communis (RCA-I)] were used to study samples obtained from 7, 14, 21 and 28 day old virgin mice. A total of 9 developmentally regulated glycoprotein bands were identified. Several patterns of glycoprotein expression were noticed: glycoproteins expressed equally strongly in all stages of development; glycoproteins that were weakly expressed or not found in 7 day old or 14 and 21 day old mice but became more prominent and reached maximal expression in mature mice; glycoproteins expressed under the influence of maternal hormones at 7 days that became barely detectable in 14 and 21 day old mice but were strongly expressed in mature mice. These data show that the pattern of expression of oviductal glycoproteins changes during the prepubertal maturation of the oviduct.