A Lectin-histochemical study on the seminiferous epithelium of the Northern Smooth-Tailed Tree Shrew (Dendrogale murina) and the Java Tree Shrew (Tupaiajavanica)

Abstract

Summary: Lectin-binding patterns in the testes or the northern smooth-tailed tree shrew, Dendrogufe murina and Jau tree sh re"", Tupaia ja l'anica were studied by light microscopy and compared the data "'ith those or the common tree shre"", f our let1ins (PNA, SBA, BPA and GS-II) were used in this study. Peanut (Arachis h)'pogaea) agglutinin (PNA), so~·bur. (Glycine mar) agglutinin (SBA) and Bauhin;a purpurea agglutinin (BPA ) sho" 'ed II strong ruction in the acrl)somal region rrom Golgi to acrosome-phase spermatids in three species or tree shrews. These lectins also showed a granular positive reaction in the cytoplasm rrom acrosome to maturation-phase spermatids in three species, except that BPA revealed no granular reaction (though it was positive) in the lI:permatid cytoplasm or the non hem smooth·tailed tree shrew and that PNA revealed no rudon in the spennatid cytoplasm or the common tree shrew, While, Griffonia simplici/o fia -II agglutinin (GS-II) showed a positive reaction in the acrosomal region or Golgi-phase spermatids in three species or tree shrews. Although GS-II was positive in the spermRtocyte cytoplasm or three species, it showed granular in the northern smooth-tailed tree shrew and common tree shrew but not gunular in the Java tree shrew. Thus. the lectin-binding patterns in testes were similar among three species belonging to the Order Scandentia. However, slight ditrerences ",'ere also detected even among these phylogenetically-dose species.