Histocytochemistry of glycoconjugates in tonsillar tissues.

Glycoproteins in palatine tonsillar epithelium were examined histochemically using seven different kinds of lectins to elucidate their functional morphology. UEA-I and WGA affinities, which might be altered due to an inflammatory reaction of the stroma, were detected selectively in the epithelial cell surface. Reacting products of SBA and GS-II were observed characteristically in the spinous and granular layers. No PNA, BPA and DBA activities were found in the tonsillar epithelium. These results suggest that carbohydrates on cell membranes might be changed according to the epithelial cell differentiation and some factors from the stroma.