Study of the distribution of glycosidic residues in eccrine sweat glands, with special reference to the content of sialic acid.

We used a group of lectins (Con-A, WGA, SBA, DBA, RCA-1, UEA-1), enzymes (neuraminidase digestion) and conventional histochemical techniques (periodic acid-Schiff reaction and reduction-saponification-Schiff reaction) in order to detect the presence of glycoproteins rich in sialic and neuraminic acids in the human eccrine sweat glands. Using both identification systems, our results showed an abundant secretion, rich in C8Oxi-acylated sialic acid.