Background: Preimplantation development of mammalia is characterized by cell surface changes functioning in intercellular communication and adhesion. The glycoconjugate role in cellular interactions has been analysed for several groups but not in sheep embryos. The binding patterns of eleven lectins during sheep preimplantation development were investigated and the role of glycoconjugates in early development was discussed.
Methods: Ultrathin sections from preimplantation ovine embryos (3-7 days) were incubated with different colloidal gold conjugated lectins and the frequency of gold particles on the cell membrane, some organelles, and the zona pellucida was evaluated.
Results and conclusions: We observed a higher staining of WGA, DBA, and SBA lectins in the intercellular contact zone with respect to the free cell surface of blastomeres during cleavage. This indicates that the N-acetyl galactosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine residues may be involved in sheep morula compaction. In contrast, the trophoblast cell displays an increase of staining of some lectins previously identified during cleavage (LcH, WGA, SBA, MPA, and PNA) on the free membrane, and a lack of sugar residues in the intercellular surface. This polarization of the trophoblast cell surface is not observed in the inner cell mass and could provide a mechanism for differentiation within the blastocyst. Intracytoplasmic vesicles show a cytochemical identity with lysosomes in the blastocyst (abundant GlcNAc and Man/Glc residues) that may reflect a functional relationship between both organelles in an intracellular cycle. The zona pellucida presents abundant GalNAc, GlcNAc, and Gal residues during preimplantation ovine development.