The localization and characterization of
oligosaccharide sequences in the cat testis was
investigated using 12 lectins in combination with the ßelimination
reaction, N-Glycosidase F and sialidase
digestion. Leydig cells expressed O-linked glycans with
terminal aGalNAc (HPA reactivity) and N-glycans with
terminal/internal aMan (Con A affinity). The basement
membrane showed terminal Neu5Aca2,6Gal/GalNAc,
Galß1,3GalNAc, a/ßGalNAc, and GlcNAc (SNA, PNA,
HPA, SBA, GSA II reactivity) in O-linked oligosaccharides,
terminal Galß1,4GlcNAc (RCA120 staining)
and aMan in N-linked oligosaccharides; in addition,
terminal Neu5Aca2,3Galß1,4GlcNac, Forssman
pentasaccharide, aGal, aL-Fuc and internal GlcNAc
(MAL II, DBA, GSA I-B4, UEA I, KOH-sialidase-WGA
affinity) formed both O- and N-linked oligosaccharides.
The Sertoli cells cytoplasm contained terminal Neu5Ac-
Galß1,4GlcNAc, Neu5Ac-ßGalNAc as well as internal
GlcNAc in O-linked glycans, aMan in N-linked
glycoproteins and terminal Neu5Aca2,6Gal/
GalNAc in both O- and N-linked oligosaccharides.
Spermatogonia exhibited cytoplasmic N-linked
glycoproteins with aMan residues. The spermatocytes
cytoplasm expressed terminal Neu5Aca2,3Galß1,4
GlcNAc and Galß1,3GalNAc in O-linked oligosaccharides,
terminal Galß1,4GlcNAc and a/ßGalNAc
in N-linked glycoconjugates. The Golgi region showed
terminal Neu5aca2,3Galß1,4GlcNac, Galß1,4GlcNAc,
Forssman pentasaccharide, and aGalNAc in O-linked
oligosaccharides, aMan and terminal ßGal in N-linked
oligosaccharides. The acrosomes of Golgi-phase
spermatids expressed terminal Galß1,3GalNAc,
Galß1,4GlcNAc, Forssmann pentasaccharide,
a/ßGalNAc, aGal and internal GlcNAc in O-linked
oligosaccharides, terminal a/ßGalNAc, aGal and
terminal/internal aMan in N-linked glycoproteins. The
acrosomes of cap-phase spermatids lacked internal
Forssman pentasaccharide and aGal, while having
increased a/ßGalNAc. The acrosomes of elongated
spermatids did not show terminal Galß1,3GalNAc,
displayed terminal Galß1,4GlcNAc and a/ßGalNAc in
N-glycans and Neu5Ac-Galß1,3GalNAc in O-linked
oligosaccharides