Lectin histochemistry of the normal human endometrium and endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Lectin stainings were performed to characterize the properties of glycoconjugates expressed in normal and malignant endometrial tissues. The specimens examined included 21 cases of normal endometrium and 20 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma. The effect of prior neuraminidase digestion (Neu) upon the lectin staining was examined as well. Nine lectins were used such as Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I-B4 (GS-I-B4), peanut agglutinin (PNA), Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), Maclura pomifera agglutinin (MPA), Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II (GS-II), and Limax flavus agglutinin (LFA). The results obtained indicated that the lectin reactivities were classified into three groups; those detected in normal as well as neoplastic endometrium (Neu-GS-I-B4, WGA, SBA, LFA), those altered depending upon menstrual phases (PNA, SBA; proliferative phase dominant, WGA, DBA, MPA; secretory phase dominant), and those found only in carcinoma tissues (UEA-I, Neu-PNA). GS-I-B4 showed a unique staining pattern, since the reactivity of this lectin appeared only after neuraminidase digestion. This appears to indicate that sugar chains reactive to Neu-GS-I-B4 might be a tissue specific antigen, as such a reactivity was not demonstrated in other organs.