The role of the glycoconjugates in the migration of anuran amphibian germ cells

1. The presence of a large amount of glycoconjugates on the anuran amphibian germ cells was demonstrated using fluorescein isothiocyanate lectins binding specifically to D-galactose and at a lower level, by other lectins binding specifically to N -acetyl-galactosamine. 2. Glycoconjugates including D-galactose were found near the pseudopodial expansions and in the extracellular space, between germ cells and follicular cells. They were also disseminated in the cytoplasm. 3. The injection of PNA lectin (from Arachis hypogea ) into the endoderm inhibited the migration of 90 % of the germ cells. This inhibition was lectin-concentration dependent. Ultrastructural study of germ cells, the migration of which was inhibited, showed that they were degenerating. These results suggest that glycoconjugates are related to the migratory activity of germ cells.