Author/Editor		Jezernik, K; Pipan, N
Title		Asymmetric-unit membranes and membrane glycoconjugates in differentiating mammalian urinary bladder urothelium
Type		članek
Source		Period Biol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 95, št. 1
Publication year		1993
Volume		str. 17-22
Language		eng
Abstract		Formation of asymmetric-unit membranes and the appearance of specific hexose residues of membranous glycoconjugates in developing superficial epithelial cells of the mouse urinary were analysed. The fracture-label method was used to investigate the distribution of Canavalia ensiformis agglulatinin (ConA) and Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in the luminal plasmalemma and in the inner cell membranes. The unthickened apical plasma membrane on day 14 of gestation exhibits dense ConA binding sites. On the 15th fetal daq a significant transition of the cytochemical markers regarding the formation of asymmetric unit membranes occurs on some superficial cells. Strong ConA binding accompanies the thin symmetric unit apical plasmalemma and a moderate WGA binding is observed mostly on asymmetric membranes. From day 18 of gestation numerous WGA binding sites are to be found only in asymmetric cell membranes. These findings suggest that the formation of asymmetric-thick membranes in developing bladder urothelium is accompanied by a decrease of ConA binding sites.
Descriptors		BLADDER EPITHELIUM CELL MEMBRANE GLYCOCONJUGATES FREEZE FRACTURING IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY LECTINS MICE