title: Lectin binding in the umbilical cord in altered glycemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Content and distribution of the oligosaccharides in the umbilical cord from pregnancies with altered glycemia were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted in the Florence Policlinic of Careggi, Italy. Samples of cord from physiological pregnancies (n=20), from pregnancies with minor degree of glucose intolerance (n=20) and from pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) treated with insulin (n=20) were collected. Eleven lectins were used (ConA, WGA, PNA, SBA, DBA, LTA, UEA I, OOA, GSL II, MAL II and SNA) in combination with chemical and enzymatic treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increase of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine and a loss of sialic acid in the umbilical cord of the cases with minor degree of glucose intolerance with respect to the other study groups was observed. d-Galactose(beta1-->3)-N-acetyl-d-galactosamine, N-acetyl-d-galactosamine and l-fucose were in less amount in both the pathological groups with respect to the control one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase of some glycoconjugates carbohydrates and the loss of others in the umbilical cord from pregnancies with minor degree of glucose intolerance might be related to its morphofunctional alterations in a not diabetic altered glycemia. Moreover, the treatment with insulin in the GDM might play a role in restoring partially the normal glycosilation in the cord components in the attempt to renew some their functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85, 50134 Florence, Italy. sgambati@unifi.it
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sgambati
authors.forename: Mirca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Giorgia D Zappoli
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Thyrion
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vichi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parretti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brizzi
authors.forename: Gherardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gheri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D037102:Lectins