Effect of Gestational Age on the Biochemical Composition of Porcine Placental Glycosaminoglycans 1

Abstract

The effect of increasing gestational age on the biochemical composition of porcine placental glycosaminoglycans (pGAG) was investigated. Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) were isolated from placentas obtained surgically at 20-day intervals during the second half of gestation (Days 50-110) and were characterized by anion-exchange chromatography and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The dried, defatted porcine placenta contained approximately 60 μg GAG/mg. Isolated pGAG contained heparin, chondroitin sulfates-dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid was the predominant pGAG throughout the second half of gestation and increased from 7.3 μg on Day 50 to 10.4 μg uronic acid/mg dried, defatted placenta on Day 110 (P < 0.05) and from 45.6% of total pGAC isolated on Day 50 to 63.9% on Day 110 (P < 0.05). Chondroitin sulfates-dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate decreased (P < 0.05) both absolutely and on a percentage basis as gestation progressed. Neither the absolute amount nor the percentage of heparin changed with increasing gestational age.