ABSTRACT
Adenohypopliysis originates from the oral ectoderm that first appears as an invagination named Rathkes pouch. The development of the anterior pituitary gland [APG] is dependent on several factors such as induction, interaction with the microenvironment and certain genetic factors. These regulate developmental processes such as cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and morphogenesis. Glycoconjugates e the important components of extracellular matrix and cell surface and have an important key role during embryogenesis. In this study we used lectin heistocliemichal technique as a tool to study distribution of glycoconjugates d their changes during histogenesis of APG. Horse radish peroxidase [HRP] labeled focus specific lectins, from Aleuria aurantia [OFA] Ulex europeus [UEA-I] and Lotus tetragolobus [LTA] were used on 5 micron paraffin sections of rat embryos [n=60] from days 10 of gestation [El0] to the time of birth. The result of this study demonstrated that the reaction of APG cells with OFA started from E, and its reactions increased with proceeding differentiation. Some cells reacted with UEA-1 from Ell and increased to El6 and then decreased afterward. LTA did not react with any cells during development. Our finding also indicated that glycoconjugates with terminal sugar Fucose may play a key role in APG development. In conclusion, the glycoconjugates on the cell surface and extra cellular matrix might be involved in regulation of embryonic development such as APG