Sugar Residue Distribution Profile of the Male Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) Intestinal Mucosae

Abstract

The sugar glider is a popular exotic pet animal that is endemic to Australia, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Sugar gliders are often kept as pets and in zoos, yet information on histological characteristics of sugar gliders is limited. This study aims to determine the distribution profile of various sugar residues in the intestines of Petaurus breviceps using lectin histochemical staining. Samples were taken from healthy adult Petaurus breviceps and stained with the lectins: Concanavalin-A (Con-A), Dolichos Biflorus Agglutinin (DBA), Peanut Agglutinin (PNA), Ricinus Communis Agglutinin (RCA), and Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin-1 (UEA-1). The data obtained were analysed qualitatively with four categories of reactivity, namely negative, weak, moderate, and strong. The results of research on Petaurus breviceps intestines showed that the PNA lectin was weak positive in the duodenum, ileum and cecum indicated that there were a small amount of Galβ1-3GalNAc. The DBA lectin was weak to strong positive in the cecum and colon indicated that there were a small to a lot amount of GalNACα1-3GalNAc. The UEA-1 lectin was weak to strong positive in the cecum, colon dan rectum, indicated there were a small to a lot amount of α-L-Fucose. The RCA-1 lectin was moderate positive in the cecum, indicated there were a moderate amount of β-D-Galactose. The Con-A lectin weak to moderate positive in the colon and rectum, indicated there were a small to moderate of α-Mannose. This study concluded that there were numerous sugar residues indicated by various lectin reactivities in the intestine of Petaurus breviceps. Keywords: intestine; lectin; Petaurus breviceps; residu; sugar