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Distribution of the glycoconjugate oligosaccharides in the human placenta from pregnancies complicated by altered glycemia: lectin histochemistry

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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 α(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-(β1–3)-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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Policlinic of Careggi, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Eleonora Sgambati, Mirca Marini, Debora Vichi & Gherardo Gheri

  2. Department of Medicine, Policlinic of Careggi, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 18, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Giorgia Donata Zappoli Thyrion

  3. Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Human Reproduction, Policlinic of Careggi, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85, 50134, Florence, Italy

    Elena Parretti & Giorgio Mello

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  1. Eleonora Sgambati
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  2. Mirca Marini
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  3. Debora Vichi
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  4. Giorgia Donata Zappoli Thyrion
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Correspondence to Eleonora Sgambati.

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Sgambati, E., Marini, M., Vichi, D. et al. Distribution of the glycoconjugate oligosaccharides in the human placenta from pregnancies complicated by altered glycemia: lectin histochemistry. Histochem Cell Biol 128, 263–273 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-007-0312-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-007-0312-8

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