Glycosaminoglycans: their distribution and potential vasoactive action in the nonpregnant and pregnant ovine uterus.
The effects of direct uterine artery infusions of glucosamine-hydrochloric acid, dextrose, and mannitol were evaluated in ewes that had undergone oophorectomy. Glucosamine-hydrochloric acid caused a prompt dose-related increase in uterine blood flow which approximated uterine blood flow rates induced by estradiol. Infusions of dextrose caused similar but transient vasodilatation, whereas infusions of mannitol had no effect. The glycosaminoglycans content of endometrium, myometrium, and caruncles/cotyledons (placentomes) was measured in nonpregnant and early pregnant ewes between 19 and 45 days' gestation. In endometrium and myometrium, total hexosamine levels were similar in nonpregnant and pregnant ewes. In the placentomes, total hexosamine levels increased steadily after 20 to 25 days' gestation. The hyaluronic acid fraction of total glycosaminoglycans hexosamine increased similarly and paralleled the total hexosamine levels. Galactosamine levels were unchanged in all tissues. It is postulated that a function of Wharton's jelly may be to provide the mechanism for shunting of uterine blood flow to the ovine placentomes.
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004717:Endometrium / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000032:analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000032:analysis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D008353:Mannitol; D004958:Estradiol; D005947:Glucose; D005944:Glucosamine