[Seminal vesicle epithelium of Lewis positive individuals secretes Le(a) in sialyl form].

The epithelium of the vesicular glands is immunohistochemically Leb positive in Lewis positive secretors; unexpectedly there is no Lea positivity in Lewis positive Nonsecretors. These findings are confirmed by serological analysis of the vesicular gland secretions. After neuraminidase pretreatment of the tissue sections immunohistochemistry reveals a weak Lea positivity in Lewis positive secretors and a more or less strong Lea positivity in Lewis positive nonsecretors. This observation argues for a close connection between the Lewis system fucosyl transferase and a very effective sialyl transferase in the vesicular gland epithelia; Lea is therefore predominantly secreted in a sialylated form. The vesicular glands seem to be the main source of the antigen CA 19-9 = sialyl-Lea of the seminal plasma.