GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS OF HUMAN TERM PLACENTA

The glycosaminoglycans of human term placenta have been extracted and analyzed. Approximately one third of the total content may be extracted with saline, a 0.9% sodium chloride solution, and consists of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate (both at various levels of sulfation), and of a small proportion of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate. The residual glycosaminoglycans may be extracted after proteolytic digestion of the tissue, and consist mainly of heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate, with a smaller proportion of chondroitin 4-sulfate. It is postulated that the two hyaluronidase-resistant glycosaminoglycans may constitute a barrier to the passage of immunocompetent cells from the mother to the fetus. © 1969.