Immunohistochemical Analysis of Mucous Blanket

Abstract

Several factors are known to affect the mucociliary transport system. Among them this study was focused on the mucous blanket. By virtue of monoclonal antibodies two carbohydrate structures, sialosyl I and sialosyl difucosyl Lex, were detected in the glycocaryx of ciliated cells. These sugar chain generated negative charge on the surface of cilia and seemed to play some roles in preventing fusion of cilia. Several histochemical study also demonstrated several structures in the periciliary fluid layer, which were fibriler links between cilia, connection between ciliary glycocalyx and frame works of outer mucous, and surfactant-like structures. These structures are supposed to play specialized roles in the mucociliary transport system and the lack of any structures will cause a deteriorated mucociliary clearance.