Histochemistry of complex carbohydrates in the hairy skin of the domestic pig.

The hairy skin from eleven body areas of the domestic pig has been studied by means of a series of selected methods for the detection of complex carbohydrates, including peroxidase-labelled lectin-diaminobenzidine procedures. The results obtained were most distinctive in the areas where the skin accessories were involved. The complex carbohydrates in the epidermis appear to be acidic and neutral glycoproteins containing a small amount of sialic acid residues. The dermal connective tissue fibres revealed positive reactions for neutral and acidic glycoproteins with notable amounts of sialic acid residues, and for proteoglycans. In different parts of the hair follicle, neutral and acidic glycoproteins were also present, most being restricted to the connective tissue sheath and the dermal papilla. In the lower regions of the outer epithelial root sheath the epithelium contained a large amount of glycogen. The sebaceous glands reacted very weakly for neutral and acidic glycoproteins. The apocrine glands exhibited mostly neutral but also acidic glycoproteins in the secretory cells and the lumenal secretion, with substantial amounts of various saccharide residues.