Light Microscopy: Overview and Basic Methods

Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins of nonimmune origin derived from plants, animals, or microorganisms that have specificity for terminal or subterminal carbohydrate residues. They are sensitive, stable, and easy-to-use tools. lectin histochemistry and cytochemistry can provide an extraordinarily sensitive detection system for changes in glycosylation and carbohydrate expression that may occur during embryogenesis, growth, and disease. Although carbohydrates occur in a vast range of permutations that may be present in and between cells, there is frequently a dominance and conservation of structures to give specific markers of cell types or differentiation. lectin histochemistry or cytochemistry can reveal subtle alterations in glycosylation between otherwise indistinguishable cells.