Altered lectin-binding pattern of efferent ducts in a tricolor cat affected by Klinefelter sindrome

Recent investigations1 indicate that cat efferent ducts (EDs) play a role in reabsorption of the fluid and proteins leaving the testes, dependent also on androgen2. The males with Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) show a variable degree of androgen deficit responsible for testicular disfunction3. Since we demonstrated synthesis and secretion of glycoconjugates in normal cat EDs1, here we investigated the glycoprotein pattern of the EDs from a tricolor cat with Klinefelter syndrome (39,XXY), by means of the lectin histochemistry, utilizing a panel of 12 lectins in association with sialidase (s) treatment. Cilia of ciliated cells reacted with HPA, SBA, Con A, KOH-s-WGA, GSA II in normal cats and with MAL II, SNA, Con A and KOH-s-WGA in XXY cat. The luminal surface of non-ciliated cells bound MAL II, KOH-s-PNA, Con A in all samples, RCA120 and HPA only in normal subjects and PNA in XXY cat. The supra-nuclear cytoplasm of non-ciliated cells expressed SNA and Con A affinity in XXY cat and also MAL II, KOH-s-PNA, RCA120, SBA in normal cats. These results indicate that negative charges are mainly expressed on the cilia of XXY cat EDs, whereas a more complex glycoconjugate pattern, probably related to an more effective endocytotic apparatus, is expressed in the supra-nuclear cytoplasm of non-ciliated cells from normal EDs. References 1. Arrighi S et al. Histol. Histopathol. 2001, 25:433-44. 2. Jones RC. The epididymis: From molecule to clinical practice. Robaire and Hinton eds, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publ. 2002,11-33. 3. Wikström AM and Dunkel L. Horm. Res. 2008, 69:317-26