CHANGES IN LECTIN BINDING PATTERN DURING FETAL AND POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF RENAL CORPUSCLES OF THE RAT KIDNEY AS REVEALED BY LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

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Focussing on glycoconjugates in the renal corpuscle, we examined changes in lectin binding pattern during fetal and postnatal development of rat kidney by light and electron microscopy using biotinylated lectins as a probe. Lectin binding patterns in the renal corpuscle were divided into 3 groups: 1) positive staining throughout all the developmental stages (WGA, ConA, RCA, DSA, PHA-E, PHA-L, and UEA-I); 2) negative reaction throughout all the developmental stages (PNA, SBA, DBA, GS-II, HPA, Lotus, and AAA); 3) a positive reaction that was detected in embryos, but then disappeared during postnatal development (ECA and UEA-II). After neuraminidase digestion, however, ECA and UEA-II strongly stained the glomerular cells and Bowman's capsule throughout all the developmental stages. Electron microscopically, ECA and UEA-II bindings were intensely positive in the plasma membrane of both podocytes and endothelial cells, and in the glomerular basement membrane. Our results suggest that sialic acid is substituted for fucose and/or added to the terminal residues of glycoconjugates that are specifically recognized by ECA and UEA-II in the plasma membrane of podocytes and endothelial cells, and in the glomerular basement membrane during glomerular development.