A scanning electron microscope study of concanavalin A receptors on retinal rod cells labeled with latex microspheres.

Con A-methacrylate microsphere conjugates prepared by a two-step glutaraldehyde reaction were used to label Con A-binding sites on bovine rod photoreceptor cells for visualization by scanning electron microscopy. A dense distribution of markers was observed on the surface of the rod outer segment, the inner segment, and the synaptic region. Disk membranes also appear to be heavily labeled with the Con A-microsphere conjugates. The Con A inhibitor, alpha-methyl mannoside, inhibited the binding of the conjugate to the surface of these visual cells.