title: Distribution of the glycoconjugate oligosaccharides in the human placenta from pregnancies complicated by altered glycemia: lectin histochemistry.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of the oligosaccharides of the glycoconjugates in placentas from pregnancies complicated by different degree of altered glycaemia. Placentas from women with physiological pregnancies (group 1), with pregnancies complicated by minor degree of glucose intolerance (group 2) and with pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) treated with insulin (group 3) were collected. Ten lectins were used (ConA, WGA, PNA, SBA, DBA, LTA, UEA I, GSL II, MAL II and SNA) in combination with chemical and enzymatic treatments. The data showed a decrease of sialic acid linked alpha(2-6) to galactose/N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and an increase of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine in the placentas of the pathological groups, in particular the group 3, comparing to the group 1. A decrease of L-fucose (LTA) and D-galactose-(beta1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and an increase and/or appearance of L-fucose (UEA I) and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine were observed in both the pathological groups, particularly in the group 2, with respect to the group 1. In GDM, and even in pregnancies with a simple alteration of maternal glycaemia, the changes in the distribution of oligosaccharides could be related to alteration of the structure and functionality of the placenta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Policlinic of Careggi, 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: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vichi
authors.forename: Giorgia Donata
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Zappoli Thyrion
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parretti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Gherardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gheri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase