Glycoconjugates in the otolithic organ of the developing chick embryo.

The presence of glycoconjugates in the otolithic organ of developing chick embryos was investigated histochemically using lectins. On the 6-day-old chick embryo, intense labelling with lectins was observed in the sensory epithelium, on the surface of the epithelium and on the immature otoconia. The otoconia were intensely labelled with lectins at every stage of the chick embryos, while the labelling with lectins in the sensory epithelium became weaker with the maturing of the otoconia. In TEM observation, the secretory granules of the supporting cells of the sensory epithelium were labelled with lectin. The reaction of lectin was more intense in the electronic dense zone of the otoconium than in the electronic lucent zone at every stage of the chick embryos. These findings indicate that the precursors of the otoconia are secreted by the supporting cells of the sensory epithelium and that glycoconjugates play an important role in otoconial formation.