A systematic histochemical study of the complex carbohydrates of the lateral prostate and seminal vesicle of the guinea pig has been made. The complex carbohydrates of the guinea pig male accessory sex glands were partially characterized by various conventional carbohydrate histochemical methods including periodic acid-Schiff, selective periodate oxidation-Schiff reaction, Alcian blue staining at pH 2.5 and 1.0, and high iron diamine. The results indicated that neutral glycoconjugates with 1,2-glycol groups and sialic acids were present in the luminal border and apical cytoplasm of the glandular cells, basement membrane and connective tissue in the lamina propria of the lateral prostate. Similar patterns were demonstrated in the seminal vesicle except that there were relatively fewer or no neutral carbohydrates in the apical cytoplasm of the vesicular epithelial cells. The epithelial basement membrane and connective tissue at the epithelial-stromal interface of both glands were rich in acidic and sulphated glycosaminoglycans. Partial characterization by bovine testicular hyaluronidase indicated the presence of chondroitin sulphates in the lamina propria of the glands.
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