Imaging submandibular pathology in the paediatric patient.

A wide range of pathologies may arise from the submandibular space (SMS) or submandibular gland (SMG) in children. We review herein the normal anatomy of the SMS and describe the role of imaging in the evaluation of SMS lesions. A schematic approach for the categorisation of SMS pathology based on imaging characteristics is provided.

Individual variations in protective effects of experimentally formed salivary pellicles.

Salivary proteins protect teeth against acid-induced softening and demineralization by forming a pellicle. However, little is known about individual, gender and ethnic variations in this effect. Therefore, we aimed to determine differences in protective effects of experimentally formed pellicles from 10 healthy young Scandinavians (3 women and 7 men) and 10 healthy young non-Scandinavians (4 women and 6 men) including Arabic, Persian, Pakistan, Indian, and Chinese subjects. Bovine enamel blocks, which were precoated with parotid and submandibular salivary proteins for 12 h, were exposed to an acidic solution with surface microhardness (SMH) determinations before and after. No change in SMH equalled 100% protection, whereas SMH corresponding to no protein coating equalled 0%. The results showed that experimentally formed pellicles from non-Scandinavians protected enamel better than pellicles from Scandinavians (p < 0.001). Within groups protective effects of pellicles formed from parotid and submandibular saliva were equal and subjects with high protection from parotid saliva pellicles also had high protection from submandibular saliva pellicles (r = 0.78; p < 0.001). Within groups considerable differences were obtained among individuals ranging from 25 to 51% protection. However, SDS-PAGE and HPLC did not reveal any systematic relation between saliva protein composition and protective effects, although slightly more of the SN-isoform of S-type cystatin was found in pooled parotid saliva from those non-Scandinavian subjects showing highest protection. We conclude that individual variations in experimental pellicle protection against erosive challenges exist and that such variations appear not to be due to differences in a single protein component.

Optimal drinking water composition for caries control in populations.

Apart from the well-documented effect of fluoride in drinking water on dental caries, little is known about other chemical effects. Since other ions in drinking water may also theoretically influence caries, as well as binding of fluoride in the oral environment, we hypothesized that the effect of drinking water on caries may not be limited to fluoride only. Among 22 standard chemical variables, including 15 ions and trace elements as well as gases, organic compounds, and physical measures, iterative search and testing identified that calcium and fluoride together explained 45% of the variations in the numbers of decayed, filled, and missing tooth surfaces (DMF-S) among 52,057 15-year-old schoolchildren in 249 Danish municipalities. Both ions had reducing effects on DMF-S independently of each other, and could be used in combination for the design of optimal drinking water for caries control in populations.

Analyses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin binding to alpha-galactosylated glycans.

The specificity and binding capacity of the galactophilic lectin from the Gram negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA-IL) was determined by solid phase measurements using galactosylated neoglycoproteins immobilized on microtiter plates. The bacterial lectin reacted with both short chain (monosaccharide) and long chain (pentasaccharide) glycoconjugates. Among the Galalpha1-XGal disaccharides, the highest affinity was observed towards the Galalpha1-3Gal structure. Raising the incubation temperature enhanced the lectin-polysaccharide agglutination, and it is suggested that binding to certain conformations of polysaccharides could vary between lectins with the same monocarbohydrate specificity and that this activity may, in part, be temperature dependent. Histochemical examination of lectin binding to different porcine tissues suggests a differential glycosylation of the carbohydrate antigens on endothelial cells in various parts of the vascular system. In the pancreas, PA-IL also adhered to the excretory ducts. These observations on PA-IL binding could be of importance both to determine infection foci in P. aeruginosa-mediated vacuities and to determine its role for pancreatic involvement in cystic fibrosis.

The effect of spironolactone on experimental periodontitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) have been found in patients with adult periodontitis. Animal studies have shown that TNF plays an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. New findings suggest that the aldosterone-inhibitor spironolactone possesses an anti-TNF effect. The purpose of the study was to determine the anti-TNF effect of spironolactone in an endotoxic shock rat model and to disclose the effect of oral administration of spironolactone on the development of experimental periodontitis in rats. METHODS: The study was divided in two parts. Part 1: oral administration of spironolactone (100 mg/kg) followed by intravenous lipopolysaccharide (1 mg/kg) infusion 45 min later. Blood samples were taken before and 90 min after lipopolysaccharide infusion to determine the TNF levels in spironolactone treated and non-treated rats. Part 2: oral administration of spironolactone [100 mg/(kg day)] starting 2 days prior to induction of experimental periodontitis established by peridental ligatures. Morphometrical and radiographical registrations of alveolar bone destruction were carried out to determine the effect of spironolactone on the progression of experimental periodontitis. RESULTS: In part 1 the endotoxic shock model showed a significant reduction in TNF levels in the spironolactone-treated group compared to the non-treated group, suggesting that spironolactone acts as a TNF inhibitor. In part 2 spironolactone-treated rats did not demonstrate significantly less alveolar bone destruction compared to non-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: The insignificant effect of spironolactone treatment could be explained by the fast metabolism of spironolactone and that spironolactone does not completely inhibit TNF production in rats. Moreover, many other cytokines and mediators involved in alveolar bone destruction may account for the lacking response to spironolactone.

Effect of saliva composition on experimental root caries.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of saliva composition on caries lesion development independently of the flow rate of unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) and other caries-related variables such as lesion progression time, oral hygiene level, and fluoride exposure. We hypothesized that this could be done by developing experimental root caries under carefully controlled conditions in situ in test subjects with UWS flow rates within a narrow window of normalcy. Fifteen female and 5 male subjects (66 +/- 6 years) were selected for the study according to their UWS flow rates between 0.2 and 0.4 ml/min. All subjects developed experimental root caries lesions during a 62-day period in which UWS as well as stimulated whole saliva (SWS) were repeatedly collected and analysed for flow rate, pH, buffer capacity, inorganic, and organic composition. Caries lesion development was determined by quantitative microradiography. The mean UWS flow rate was 0.30 +/- 0.05 ml/min. Significant negative correlations were obtained between UWS total phosphate concentration and mineral loss (DeltaZ; r(s) = -0.72, p < 0.001) and UWS total protein concentration and DeltaZ (r(s) = -0.70, p < 0.01). SWS and its constituents had only limited or no effect on DeltaZ. Qualitative UWS protein analysis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that subjects with low DeltaZ values had broader and more stained amylase bands than subjects with high DeltaZ values. These findings were confirmed quantitatively by HPLC. We conclude that, within a group of subjects with normal UWS flow rates, the UWS composition was more important for caries lesion development than the SWS composition. Furthermore, high UWS concentrations of phosphate, protein, and amylase were caries-protective.

Binding of Griffonia simplicifolia 1 isolectin B4 (GS1 B4) to alpha-galactose antigens.

Glycoconjugates with terminal Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc sequences (alpha-galactosyl epitopes, natural xenoreactive antigens) are present on various tissues in pigs and are recognized by human anti-alphagalactosyl (alphaGal) antibodies1. Hence xenotransplantation (pig-to-human) would trigger immune reactions involving complement activation and lead to the hyperactute rejection of the graft. Xenoreactive antigens are often studied by using the lectin Griffonia simplicifolia 1 isolectin B4 (GS1 B4), which shows high affinity to galactose. We here estimate the specificity of GS1 B4 for detecting various galactosyl epitopes by measuring lectin binding to neoglycoproteins, thyroglobulin and pig skeletal muscle. Enzyme linked lectin assays confirmed that GS1 B4 was highly specific to alpha-galactosylated neoglycoproteins while the lectin did not detect a beta-galactosylated ligand. The length of the sugar chains influenced the lectin-carbohydrate interaction. A monosaccharide linked to serum albumin showed higher lectin affinity than did neoglycoproteins with di- and tri-alpha-galactosyl epitopes. When the carbohydrate was extended, as in the xenoreactive pentasaccharide (Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Glc), the carbohydrate- lectin interaction was meagre. Not only the terminal, but also the subterminal sugar affected the lectin binding because the GS1 B4 affinity to Galalpha1-3Gal was much stronger than to Galalpha1-3GalNAc. In bovine and porcine thyroglobulin most alphaGal epitopes appear to be cryptic, but are unmasked by a heat denaturation. In pig skeletal muscle there was lectin reaction not only in the muscle capillaries, but also in the connective tissue and intracellularly in muscle fibres. In Western blots of isolated proteins from pig muscle at least three bands were strongly stained after incubation with lectin.

The buffer capacity and buffer systems of human whole saliva measured without loss of CO2.

The buffer capacity of unstimulated (UWS) and stimulated (SWS) whole-mouth saliva involves three major buffer systems. The aim was to determine the buffer capacity of UWS and SWS at specific pH in the interval from pH 7.5 down to pH 3.0. The contribution of each of the buffer systems was also determined under conditions resembling those in the mouth. UWS and SWS were collected from 20 healthy volunteers; the saliva was collected under paraffin oil in order to avoid loss of CO2. The buffer capacity of UWS and SWS in samples with and without bicarbonate (HCO3-) and CO2 were measured at various pH by acid titration in a closed system at 36 C. The mean concentrations of the buffer systems in UWS (mean flow rate 0.55 ml/min) were 4.4 mmol/l HCO3-, 4.5 mmol/l phosphate (of which 1.3 mmol/l was present in the form of HPO4(2-)), 1876 microg/ml protein; the saliva pH was 6.8 and the P(CO2) 29.3 mmHg. The corresponding mean concentrations in SWS (mean flow rate 1.66 ml/min) were 9.7 mmol/l HCO3-, 3.8 mmol/l phosphate (of which 1.9 mmol/l was present in the form of HPO4(2-)), 1955 microg/ml protein; pH 7.2 and P(CO2) 25.7 mmHg, The highest buffer capacity of UWS and SWS was 6.0 and 8.5 mmol H+ /(1 saliva*pH unit) at pH 6.25, respectively. At saliva pH in the range from pH 7 down to pH 5, the following had significant impact on buffer capacity: the HCO3- concentration (p < 0.001), the flow rate (p < 0.01), and the pH of the saliva (p < 0.05). At acidic pH in the range from pH 5 down to pH 4, however, only the protein concentration had a significant impact on buffer capacity (p < 0.01).

Galalpha1-->4Gal-glycans are expressed on myofibrillar associated proteins.

There is evidence that glycans carrying terminal galactose residues are differently expressed in the sarcoplasm of different muscle fiber types. In this study monoclonal antibodies directed against P blood group antigens Pk: Galalpha1-4Galbeta1-4Glcbeta- and P1: Galalpha1-4Galbeta1-4GlcNAcbeta- were used to detect terminal alpha-galactosylated glycoconjugates on muscle proteins. Electrotransfer of proteins, extracted from human masseter and biceps muscles, to nitrocellulose after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and incubation with anti-Pk (CD77) consistently showed two bands with apparent molecular weights of 66 kDa and 64 kDa. In fresh frozen muscle sections from some humans there was endothelial reaction with anti-CD77 in capillaries, venules and veins but not in arterioles and arteries. In muscle samples from other humans there was no staining of endothelial cells. Formalin-fixed human muscle displayed a CD77 reaction with highest accumulation of reaction product at the periphery of the fibers. This may be explained by the presence of Pk glycoconjugates on intermediate filaments in muscle fibers. In preparations of cat masseter muscle proteins the antibodies against P1Pk antigens reacted with a 170 kDa and a 55 kDa band while in preparations of cat biceps brachii only a 55 kDa band was reactive. The specificities of the antibodies were investigated by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), alpha- and beta-galactosidase digestion and inhibitory sugars. This study indicates that glycans carrying Galalpha1-4Galbeta1- epitopes are expressed on myofibrillar associated proteins.

Sirius red and acid fuchsin staining mechanisms.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the staining mechanism of acid fuchsin and Sirius red. Acid (poly-glutamic acid), neutral (poly-hydroxyproline) and basic (poly-arginine, poly-histidine, poly-lysine) poly-amino acids, collagen types I, II and III, and arginine- and lysine-containing histones were used as test substances applied to nitrocellulose membranes as dot blots. Five micrometer sections of granulation tissue on slides were tested in parallel. Some dots and sections were treated with chloramine-T before staining with acid fuchsin and Sirius red and some with 1 M NaOH after staining. The acid and neutral poly-amino acids were not stained, but the basic amino acids polylysine and poly-arginine, poly-amino acids containing these basic amino acids and the histones and the collagens exhibited intense staining. Oxidative deamination by chloramine-T abolished the staining and 1 M NaOH removed the staining except in the case of poly-arginine. Tissue sections treated in the same way showed a considerable decrease in staining after oxidative deamination with chloramine-T; in particular, the staining of the smaller fibers was abolished. The staining was totally removed by destaining with 1 M NaOH. Therefore, acid fuchsin and Sirius red are not selectively bound to collagen; they are also bound to other proteins containing basic amino acids, and staining to a large extent is influenced by electrostatic forces. The staining seems not to be selective for collagen, and one must account for this when quantitative conclusions are drawn from collagen methods using these stains.

Nondestructive viscoelastic analysis of anisotropy in compressed tablets.

A nondestructive procedure for determining anisotropy levels in compressed tablets was developed based on dynamic stress/strain measurements of viscoelasticity in the axial and radial directions. An instrument was designed and built capable of 10 nm resolution of strain and operating over the frequency range 1-64 Hz. Tablets of 11 pharmaceutical excipients and drugs, representing both plastic and brittle materials, were found to behave as three-parameter viscoelastic solids in both the axial and radial directions. Elastic and viscous parameters were computed, based on frequency dependence over the range studied, and were found to differ greatly in the axial and radial directions. Degrees of anisotropy, defined as the ratio of the uncoupled spring parameters in the radial vs the axial direction, were found to range from 2- to 12-fold over the materials studied. These levels of anisotropy are thought to be typical of tablets manufactured in a rotary press under normal conditions. Measurements of this type can be easily made routinely as a further means of quality control and reflect an important feature of the internal structure of compressed tablets.

Dose response profiles of human growth hormone in subcutaneous wound chambers in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate dose response profiles of human growth hormone in soft connective tissue healing when it is given locally in subcutaneous wound chambers. DESIGN: Placebo controlled parallel study. SETTING: Institute of Medical Anatomy, Denmark. MATERIAL: 36 male Sprague Dawley rats, in three group of 12. INTERVENTIONS: Stainless steel wire mesh cylinders 7 mm in diameter and 20 mm long were implanted subcutaneously in pairs in the upper and lower back on either side of the midline in three groups of male Sprague Dawley rats. Two groups were each given two different doses of growth hormone (group 1, 0.2 and 0.7 IU; and group 2, 0.02 and 2 IU) in two cylinders and vehicle alone in the two cylinders on the opposite side. Group 3 were given vehicle alone in two cylinders and needle puncture (sham) on the opposite side. Injections of growth hormone or vehicle (placebo) were given every three days for 16 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body weight, weight of granulation tissue, and concentrations of hydroxyproline and aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type III. RESULTS: The dose response curves for weight of granulation tissue and deposition of collagen were upward convex (ANOVA p < 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Growth hormone in doses of 0.2 and 0.7 IU stimulated formation of granulation tissue to means of 180% (95% confidence interval (Cl) 149% to 210%) and 174% (95% Cl 148% to 200%) more than in the placebo treated cylinders (group 3) (p < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). Doses of 0.2 and 2 IU, however, had less effect. The placebo cylinders in animals in groups 1 and 2 contained a mean of 157% (95% Cl 137% to 177%) more granulation tissue than the cylinders in group 3, indicating that locally applied growth hormone also had a systemic effect. CONCLUSION: The clinical use of topical growth hormone in wound healing may be complicated by the relatively narrow therapeutic interval.

The protein effect on determination of DNA with Hoechst 33258.

The present study was designed to afford a critical review of the effect of proteins on the Hoechst 33258 method for determination of DNA of crude homogenates. A considerable effect of proteins on the fluorescence was observed when the concentration exceeded 100 micrograms BSA equivalent protein. Below that value, practically no effect of proteins was noted. We used proteinase K to remove the proteins, but dilution of homogenates could be used as well. Moreover, we found that the concentration of the fluorochrome should be between 1 microgram and 2 micrograms when microgram levels DNA are to be determined.

Immunohistochemistry of the intercellular matrix components and the epithelio-mesenchymal junction of the human tooth germ.

The immunohistochemical localization of heparan sulphate, collagen type I, III and IV, laminin, tenascin, plasma- and cellular fibronectin was studied in tooth germs from human fetuses. The lamina basalis ameloblastica or membrana preformativa, which separates the pre-ameloblasts from the pre-dentin and dentin, contained heparan sulphate, collagen type IV, laminin and fibronectin. Enamel reacted with antifibronectin, but the reaction varied depending on the type of fibronectin and the source of antibody. In early pre-dentin, collagen type I, laminin, tenascin and fibronectin were present. In late pre-dentin and dentin collagen type I was found in intertubular dentin and in the zone between enamel and dentin. The close relationship between collagen type I in dentin and fibronectin in immature enamel is interesting, as it may contribute to the stabilization of the amelodentinal interface. In dental pulp, collagen type IV and laminin were found in the endothelial basement membranes. Collagen type I and III, tenascin and fibronectin were localized to the mesenchymal intercellular matrix. The results of this study have supported the assumption that the lamina basalis ameloblastica is a basement membrane, and have lead to the suggestion that ameloblasts are producers of fibronectin or a fibronectin-like substance.

Influence of human growth hormone on granulation tissue formation, collagen deposition, and the aminoterminal propeptide of collagen type III in wound chambers in rats.

The influence of growth hormone on granulation tissue formation was investigated in wire mesh cylinders implanted subcutaneously in rats. Two groups of 10 rats (study 1) and 1 group of 12 rats (study 2) were used for the investigation. Growth hormone, 0.02 and 0.2 IU (study 1), 0.05 and 0.2 IU (study 2), or vehicle only, was injected into the cylinders every third day for 16 days. In study 2, wound fluid was aspirated before injection of growth hormone and saved for later analysis of the aminoterminal propeptide of collagen type III. In both studies, growth hormone significantly increased the formation of granulation tissue and of total collagen content dose-dependently, whereas the relative amount of collagen was unaffected by growth hormone treatment. Wound fluid aminopropeptide increased significantly after implantation of the cylinders until day 7, before declining slightly, with no difference between the groups. We conclude that growth hormone stimulated granulation tissue formation and collagen deposition dose-dependently in the wound cylinders when injected every third day. The results suggest that growth hormone treatment does not cause excessive collagen deposition in newly formed granulation tissue.

Biotin carboxylases in mitochondria and the cytosol from skeletal and cardiac muscle as detected by avidin binding.

Biotin carboxylases in mammalian cells are regulatory enzymes in lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis. In this study, endogenous biotin in skeletal and cardiac muscle was detected using avidin conjugated with alkaline phosphatase and applied in high concentrations to muscle sections. The avidin binding was subsequently visualized by histochemical demonstration of the alkaline phosphatase activity. All cardiac muscle cells showed high affinity for avidin with only the nuclei and the intercalated discs remaining unstained. In skeletal muscle a diffuse reaction could be detected in the sarcoplasm of the muscle fibres. A granular reaction was noted in the same fibres that showed activity for succinic dehydrogenase. The specificity of the coloured reaction product in the muscle sections was investigated and is suggested to be caused by avidin binding to biotin moieties in mitochondria and the cytosol. Mitochondrial and cytosolic preparations of skeletal muscle were electrophoresed in sodium dodecyl sulphate gels. After blotting and incubation with conjugated avidin, two bands with molecular weights of 75 kDa and 130 kDa respectively were evident in the mitochondrial preparation. It is suggested that the 75-kDa band represents comigration of the biotin-containing subunits of propionyl-CoA carboxylase and methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase. The 130-kDa band may represent the biotin-containing pyruvate carboxylase. In the cytosolic preparation a 270-kDa band was stained in blots that had been incubated with conjugated avidin; this band is suggested to represent acetyl-CoA carboxylase. A 190-kDa cytosolic band might be a cleavage product of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. We propose that using alkaline phosphatase-conjugated avidin it is possible to detect the mitochondrial and cytosolic biotin-dependent carboxylases in striated muscle.

Exaggerated abrasion/erosion of human dental enamel surfaces: a case report.

An atypical, rapidly proceeding abrasion/erosion of the labial enamel surfaces of the maxillary and mandibular incisors and canines in a 27-yr-old man is reported. Ultrastructural examination of a replica of the teeth showed a practically structureless enamel surface both at the initial examination and after 12 months. However, at the end of the period, minor areas of dentin tubules became visible, indicating that a substantial loss of the tooth substance had taken place. The patient's occupation involved daily environmental contact with proteolytic enzymes. In vitro study of enamel exposed to one of the actual proteolytic enzymes showed dissolution of enamel substance, and it cannot be excluded that enzymatic decomposition of the organic enamel matrix is a contributing cause of the observed exaggerated loss of tooth substance.

Fucose expression in skeletal muscle: a lectin histochemical study.

Binding sites for three fucose specific lectins, Aleuria aurantia agglutinin (AAA), Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin (LTA) and Ulex europeus I agglutinin (UEA I), were investigated in sections from normal human and rat muscles, in muscle from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and in denervated and devascularized rat muscle. In normal human and rat muscle AAA detected fucosylated glycocompounds in the sarcoplasm, sarcolemma, interfibre connective tissue and vascular structures. In normal human muscle addition of fucose to the AAA incubation medium or treatment of the sections with formaldehyde followed by periodic oxidation before lectin incubation strongly inhibited the staining at all sites other than endothelial cells. In normal rat muscle the same staining procedures strongly inhibited the AAA binding at all sites other than the sarcolemma. Incubation with LTA resulted in a diffuse reaction around the vascular structures in rat muscle, while in human muscle a moderate, homogeneous staining was present in all muscle fibres. Treatment of the sections with formaldehyde and periodic acid before incubation with LTA resulted in strongly labelled muscle capillaries in both human and rat muscle. The only elements in the muscle tissues that were stained with UEA I were human endothelial cells. In denervated and devascularized rat muscle incubation with AAA revealed a novel fucose expression that appeared intracellularly in some necrotic fibres. The AAA-positive fucose residues in the sarcolemma of normal muscle fibres that were resistant to periodic acid oxidation could not be shown by AAA in denervated muscle. In DMD muscle a cryptic sarcolemmal fucose expression could be shown with AAA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The silver staining procedure of sodium dodecyl sulfate-gels may be accelerated by shortening fixation time.

In most silver staining methods the first step in the staining of proteins separated after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is a rather protracted fixation of the gels. Optimum fixation should be short, cause no background staining and effectively immobilize the proteins in the gel without masking the proteins for reaction with the staining solution. Further, the concentration of the fixing compounds should be as low as possible due to the potential toxicity of fixatives. Fixation for only 5 min with mixtures of very low concentrations of formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde in ethanol, or a solution of formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde in picric acid and ethanol, fulfill these demands, provided that the gels were prefixed in ethanol-acetic acid for 10 min. As a consequence of these results a fast and sensitive silver staining procedure is proposed.

Mosaic lectin and enzyme staining patterns in rat skeletal muscle.

We compared the localizations of lectin binding and activity for myosin ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase in sections of the gracilis, soleus, and masseter muscles from 10- and 60-day-old rats. In the 60-day-old rats, incubation of the muscle sections with the lectins ConA, GS-II, HPA, and jacalin gave rise to a mosaic staining pattern, especially in the gracilis muscle, in which the same fibers were strongly stained for ConA, GS-II, and HPA, whereas the staining with jacalin in these fibers was weak, and vice versa. There was no correspondence in the staining patterns for the enzymes and the lectins. In the masseter muscle only GS-II gave rise to distinct differences in the staining intensity between muscle fibers. In 10-day-old rats all fibers in the muscles were moderately stained with ConA, HPA, and jacalin, whereas a chessboard staining pattern could be observed after incubation with GS-II. In an extract of hindleg muscle from 60-day-old rats there was strong affinity for ConA and HPA and weak affinity for GS-II and jacalin, as shown by dot-blotting. After electrophoresis and blotting to nitrocellulose membranes, three muscle protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 100,000, 90,000, and 43,000 showed affinity for ConA, HPA, and GS-II, whereas no bands were jacalin positive. The complex lectin staining pattern in skeletal muscle might be related to development, specialization, and function of the muscles.