Different lectin-binding patterns of the male and female harderian gland in the golden hamster.

Ten lectin-binding patterns were examined with the PAP method for the detection of sugar residues on the Harderian glands of golden hamsters of both sexes. Each lectin showed a specific binding pattern. The most characteristic pattern was exhibited by DBA which intensely stained cells with small lipid vacuoles, but not cells with large lipid vacuoles in the male gland. In the female gland, both cell types showed no reaction with the DBA. The PNA had almost the opposite binding pattern. From the lectin-binding patterns, it can be derived that, not only do the two cell types in same sex glands have different glycoconjugate distribution, but also the same type of cells in different sex glands has a different glycoconjugate distribution. Therefore, the sexual dimorphism of the golden hamster Harderian gland also occurs in its carbohydrate moieties. In this study, the duct of the Harderian glands revealed no sexual dimorphism in the lectin-binding patterns.