Abstract
The purpose of our present study is to determine the spatial pattern of different lectins and E-cadherin in the duck kidney, which has never been done before. We checked the localization of six different lectins in the adult duck kidney of both sexes by histochemistry using wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), dolichos Biflorus Agglutinin (DBA), concanavalin (Con A) and griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I (GSA-I). We found different locations of lectins in the duck nephron and this difference may be related to the function of each lectin. WGA lectin had intense reactions in the proximal and distal convoluted tubules (PCT and DCT) but was not present in the renal corpuscle of the renal cortex. WGA was also intense in the medulla especially in the collecting ducts (CD) and collecting tubules (CT). RCA was intense in the renal corpuscle, moderate in in the renal cortex tubules, and intense in the medulla tubules. PNA was moderate in the tubules of renal cortex and renal corpuscle while in the medulla, PNA had intense reaction. Con A, GSA-I and DBA lectins had mild to moderate reactions in the renal cortex and also in the medulla. Con A and GSA-I had intense reactions in the renal corpuscles. E-cadherin, which is responsible for maintaining cell polarity, was located in the lateral epithelial cells of all tubes and ducts in the renal cortex and medulla and not present in the renal corpuscle. There are no previous studies describing the location of different lectins and E-cadherin in duck kidneys. Our study clarifies the distribution pattern of various lectins and E-cadherin, which may be useful for comprehending how these lectins and E-cadherin work in the duck kidney.

Key words: Duck; Lectins; E-cadherin; Immunohistochemistry; Kidney