Normal and adenomatous colonic tissues from children with
Gardner's syndrome were compared to analogous tissues from adults bearing
adenomatous polyps using
mucin histochemical and
lectin-binding techniques. Adenomatous tissue from children exhibited general morphological similarity to its adult homologue, but showed less dysplasia. Its goblet cells stained weaker for
mucins and the
lectins Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and
peanut agglutinin (PNA). This suggested underglycosylation of side chains of
mucins in these childhood
adenomas. The weak DBA and relatively intense
sulfomucin staining in these
adenomas suggested that they arose from deep crypt cells. Adult
adenomas shared certain histochemical properties with
carcinomas, namely, increased affinity for
periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and focally for PNA. There is evidence based on the effects of saponification and
sialidase treatments that the weak initial PAS reaction in normal and adenomatous colonic goblet cells from both age groups results from substituents on
sialic acid and, in the case of normal colon from children, on other
monosaccharides as well. Finally, there was a frequent lack of parellelism between PAS and
lectin staining suggesting that different groups within the
sugars are responsible for reactivity with those compounds.