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INTRACELLULAR MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES IN THE NORMAL HUMAN BRONCHIAL TREE
Author(s) -
McCarthy Ciaran,
Reid Lynne
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
quarterly journal of experimental physiology and cognate medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0033-5541
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1964.sp001709
Subject(s) - neuraminic acid , neuraminidase , glycosaminoglycan , staining , chemistry , biochemistry , mucus , periodic acid , biology , sialic acid , enzyme , ecology , genetics
Mucus‐secreting cells in the human bronchial tree have been studied by histochemical methods, using Alcian blue and periodic acid‐Schiff and also aldehyde Fuchsin (AF) and Alcian blue (AB), in the order of AF/AB and AB/AF and in association with treatment by cetyl‐triethyl‐ammonium‐bromide and methylation‐saponification. By a combination of stains, the acid mucopolysaccharides have been distinguished from the neutral: neuraminic acid has been located by using consecutive sections stained as above, one of which had previously been treated with neuraminidase. Certain deductions about the nature of Alcian blue staining are made. Neutral mucopolysaccharide is mainly confined to the granular cells, acid mucopolysaccharide to distended cells. Some of the latter contain neuraminidase‐susceptible acid mucopolysaccharide, while in others it is only partially susceptible; the remaining acid mucopolysaccharide is likely to be neuraminidase‐resistant neuraminic acid. Surface epithelium, ducts and glands each have a characteristic distribution of the various cell types. The findings suggest a cycle of secretion.