Cytochemical evaluation of anionic sites on the surface of cultured pigment epithelium cells from normal and dystrophic RCS rats.

Anionic sites on the surface of cultured pigment epithelium cells from normal and dystrophic rats were studied. Cytochemical procedures and quantitative analysis were employed in order to determine distribution patterns and labeling densities. Anionic sites, in general, were localized with cationized ferritin at pH 7.0. The presence and density of sialic acid residues on the pigment epithelium cell surface were evaluated with colloidal iron at pH 1.8. Dystrophic cells contained 20% more cationized ferritin-binding sites as compared with normal pigment epithelium cells. With colloidal iron, an 18% increase in labeling density was measured in dystrophic pigment epithelium cells. Pretreatment with neuraminidase reduced subsequent labeling with colloidal iron by 93-97%. Thus, the presence of sialic acid residues on the surface of pigment epithelium cells and a significant increase in its content on the surface of dystrophic cells were established.