Equine endometrium at pre-implantation stages of pregnancy has specific glycosylated regions.
Pre- and post-implantation endometrial tissue was removed from equids at known stages of pregnancy. Thin sections of this material were reacted with fluorescein conjugates of several lectins. Two lectins in particular, with specificities for L-fucose and N-acetylglucosamine, reacted strongly with the endometrial epithelium. The reaction for N-acetylglucosamine occurred in small patches on the endometrial epithelium and extended to cover the entire epithelial surface and endometrial glands after implantation. L-Fucose was observed in larger surface deposits particularly at the openings of endometrial glands, but did not extend into them either before or after implantation. These observations indicate changes in glycosylated molecules of endometrial epithelium preceding implantation in equids.
D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006736:Horses; D037102:Lectins; D011247:Pregnancy; D013861:Thiocyanates
D005452:Fluoresceins; D037102:Lectins; D013861:Thiocyanates; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate