Human umbilical cord conditioned medium: a stimulus for human CFU-G

Segments of human umbilical cord have been used to prepare a highly active conditioned medium (HUCCM) for in vitro human granulopoiesis and have been compared with human placenta conditioned medium (HPCM) and feeder layers. The HUCCM produced more colonies on day 7 than HPCM (P less than 0.001), and colonies consisted almost exclusively (over 98%) of granulocytic cells by both morphological and cytochemical analysis. The HUCCM-stimulated colonies have a short culture life, the number of colonies being maximal on day 7 of culture with few colonies remaining on day 10. The main source of the colony-stimulating activity in the umbilical cord was found in the Wharton's Jelly component.

[Collagen volume of the umbilical cord in infants with unstable hip joint]

Collagen amounts in the umbilical cord in infants with unstable hip joint and positive Ortolani 's sign were measured and the results were discussed from pathogenetic viewpoint. Incidence of unstable hip and that of neonatal hip with positive Ortolani 's sign were 0.23% and 0.93% respectively, in 4,824 neonates examined during one year: 1980. Biochemical analysis was carried out in the umbilical cords of 8 female neonates with positive Ortolani 's sign and of 8 female babies who were later diagnosed as having unstable hip joint. A control group consisting of 16 normal babies with similar sex, body weight, period of gestation and birth order, corresponding to the above mentioned 2 groups, was also investigated for the purpose of statistical analysis. The amount of hydroxyproline was examined by a modified Woessner 's method and the amount of collagen was calculated by Fredensborg 's method. No significant statistical difference in collagen amounts was found between these three groups. Relationship between amounts of collagen and 9 obstetrical factors relating to congenital dislocation of the hip joint: mother's height, weight and occupation; neonatal sex, birth order, position in the uterus and weight; weight of placenta and length of the umbilical cord, were studied and statistical analysis was made. Amounts of collagen in the cross section of the umbilical cord were significantly lower in neonates with longer umbilical cords.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Histochemical demonstration of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins of human placenta and umbilical cord tissues by means of almond glycopeptidase digestion

Almond glycopeptidase is an enzyme which cleaves specifically beta-aspartylglucosylamine linkages in glycoproteins with asialo-carbohydrate moieties. With this enzyme, it was possible to demonstrate the localization of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins of human placenta and umbilical cord tissues. In these tissues, the oligosaccharides were shown to react positively for a series of histochemical procedures for neutral complex carbohydrates such as periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), peroxidase-labelled Ricinus communis agglutinin-I-diaminobenzidine (PO-RCA-DAB) and concanavalin A-peroxidase-diaminobenzidine (Con A-PO-DAB). The asparagine-linked carbohydrates were localized in the placental villi, blood vessels and perivascular tissues and the umbilical cord blood vessels and matrix. The results of previous biochemical analyses performed upon the same tissues (Takahashi et al., 1981) have corroborated the results of the histochemical studies. The present results appear to substantiate the usefulness of almond glycopeptidase for the histochemical demonstration of the particular oligosaccharides of glycoproteins in tissues in general.

A new chromatographic method for the fractionation of hyaluronic acid

Sodium hyaluronate from rooster comb, umbilical cord, bovine vitreous and a special commercial hyaluronic acid preparation, "HealonR" have been fractionated at 4 degrees C on DEAE-Sephacel columns using salt gradients from 0 leads to 0.4M NaCl. All samples examined displayed a high degree of polydispersity. The number of well separated fractions observed in these chromatograms ranges from 10-30 depending on the source of the material. A molecular weight distribution effect does not seem to be the main factor controlling this fractionation as no differences could be observed when the limiting viscosity numbers (eta) for numerous fractions isolated from the same sample were compared with each other. As no galactosamine, sulfate or phosphate is found directly linked to these fractions, it is suggested that disaggregation of an hyaluronate molecular aggregate could be the basis for this fractionation.

Evidence for a mechanical coupling of glycoprotein microfibrils with collagen fibrils in Wharton's jelly

Wharton's jelly of human umbilical cord is known to contain hyaluronic acid and sulphated glycosaminoglycans (probably as proteoglycans) immobilized in an insoluble collagen fibril network. A secondary, independent, insoluble network based on glycoprotein microfibrils of 13 nm diameter and interpenetrated with the collagen network has now been found in amounts corresponding to 9% of the weight of collagen. Elastin, however, is absent. Tissue slices placed in physiological buffer swell to two-fold their in vivo volume. This is due to the influence of the polysaccharides since treatment with either testicular hyaluronidase, Streptomyces hyaluronidase or chondroitinase ABC, causes their quantitative removal and abolishes the swelling tendency of tissue. Tissue so treated remains close to its in vivo volume indicating that for this state the fibrillar network, overall, is in its relaxed unstressed configuration. Subsequent treatment with a protease causes the degradation of the glycoprotein microfibril network and a two-fold increase in tissue volume while treatment with bacterial collagenase, resulting in the solubilization of 46% of the collagen, causes only a slight deswelling. These results suggest that the unstressed configuration of the network system at the in vivo volume of tissue is due to the collagen network being held in compression by the microfibril network. With intact tissue protease digestion with trypsin, in addition, causes a preferential release of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. Hyaluronic acid, however, remains largely immobilized.

Vasopressin concentration in cord blood: correlation with method of delivery and cord pH

Cord plasma vasopressin concentration, determined by radioimmunoassay, was higher in arterial than in venous blood in 122 (84%) infants; the highest vasopressin values were recorded in 21 acidotic infants (mean cord pH, 7.13) delivered per vaginam and the lowest values in 50 infants delivered by cesarean section. Cord vasopressin levels were not elevated in infants delivered by cesarean section because of obstructed labor. There was a lack of correlation between vasopressin levels and the length of labor or cervical dilatation; a significant correlation was found between cord arterial vasopressin values and pH. Low vasopressin values were recorded in a group of 22 healthy infants (mean cord pH, 7.29) delivered by low forceps operation.

[Study of different proteoglycan salts]

The authors have devised the methods for preparing free hyaluronic acid (HA) and non-aggregating fraction of protein-chondroitin-keratan sulfate (PCKS), as well as those for preparing their Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ salts (acid and neutral). Infrared spectroscopy has demonstrated the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, formed by hydroxyl groups, in HA and PCKS macrocomplexes and in PCKS acid salts. HA salts appeared not to form macrocomplexes at the expense of intermolecular hydrogen bonds.

[Infrared spectra of certain proteoglycans]

IR spectra of high-purified potassium salts of hyaluronic acid (HA), non-aggregation fraction of protein-chondroitin-keratan sulfate (PChKS) and heparin fractions containing 3 (H-3) and 4 (H-4) residues of sulfuric acid per dimer of polymer have been measured. An absorption band of 1150 cm-1 has been observed in the spectra of both HA and PChKS but has not been found in the spectra of H-3 and H-4. Observation of this band in the spectra of some heparin preparations indicates that they contain the admixtures of HA, PChKS and other proteoglycans. A previously suggested method for isolation of heparin fractions H-3 and H-4 makes it possible to obtain preparations that do not contain the admixtures of other proteoglycans.

A study on acid glycosaminoglycans in pleural diseases

1. Pleural fluid contained protein-bound hyaluronic acid, protein-bound chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, undersulfated chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate. The composition of acid glycosaminoglycans in pleural fluid seems to reflect the rate of biosynthesis and degradation of these polysaccharides at some sites which are closely related to the pleural cavity. 2. A possibility was suggested that hyaluronic acid was synthesized in pleural tissue and was excreted shortly thereafter into the surroundings, as evidenced by experiments with rabbit pleural tissue. 3. In human, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate were found in thickened pleurae caused by lung cancer, in those caused by asbestosis and also in tumor tissues of pleural mesothelioma. The molecular size of hyaluronic acid from pleural mesothelioma was found to be larger than that from human unbilical cord. 4. Quantification and histochemical study of acid glycosaminoglycans demonstrated that the quantity of hyaluronic acid in tissue specimens of mesothelioma by far exceeded that in non-mesothelioma cases (statistically significant). 5. Thus a possibility was suggested that histochemical investigation together with microquantitation of hyaluronic acid in pleural tissue may prove to be an efficient means of differential diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. 6. Definite conclusion on the relationship between the fluctuation with time in quantity of acid glycosaminoglycans of the effusions and etiology of pleurisy awaits further investigations.

Convenient method for the gas chromatographic analysis of hexosamines in the presence of neutral monosaccharides and uronic acids

A convenient gas chromatographic method has been devised for the analysis of hexosamines in the presence of neutral and acidic sugars, which involves sequential derivatization reactions of nitrous acid deamination, mercaptalation, and trimethylsilylation. This method allows rapid, simultaneous determination of 0.1-1 micromole samples of hexosamines with coefficients of variation of less than 3%.

The water content of the human umbilical cord

105 umbilical cords from 53 term and 52 preterm newborn infants were freeze-dried after removal of the blood vessels, to determine the water content. The mean umbilical cord water content (i.e. mean of water content of fetal and placental ends of the cord), was 88.9% (SD 2.73) for term cords and 91.9% (SD 1.99) for preterm cords. The mean water content fell with increasing gestation. The fetal end of the cord had a significantly higher water content than the placental end. Similarly, the volume of a 4-cm length segment of cord was significantly greater at the fetal than placental end. There was no correlation between cord water content or volume and several other variables including birthweight, size for gestational age and placental weight. These observations suggest a metabolically active role for the umbilical cord.

Isolation and characterization of proteohyaluronic acid from human umbilical cord

Proteohyaluronic acid was extracted from human umbilical cord with 0.2% NaCl, then purified by cetylpyridinium chloride(CPC)-precipitation, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, gel-filtration on Sephadex G-200 and on Sepharose 4B, in succession. The purified preparation contained glucosamine (40.1%), glucuronic acid (45.7%) and protein (2.6%). Glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, serine and aspartic acid were the major amino acids of the protein moiety. The result of the gel-filtration suggested that an average molecular weight was more than 1 x 10(6). Although analytical data for the constituent sugars and infrared spectra were similar before and after pronase digestion of this proteohyaluronic acid, the mobilities in electrophoresis and the elution patterns of gel-filtration differed remarkably from one another. Since the protein content decreased from 2.6% to 0.3% by the proteolytic digestion, it is evident that the degraded protein moiety played an important role in maintaining the macromolecular structure of this proteohyaluronic acid.

Further studies on the umbilical cord and its water content

The results show that the varied appearance of the umbilical cord at birth can be related to its water content and that there are associated changes to be seen histologically in all layers of the cord, but especially in Wharton's jelly. Quantimet analysis confirms these findings and highlights a small group where dual pathology may exist. The relationship between oedematous cords, large drip volume, and respiratory distress in the newborn is considered, and a possible explanation for reduced placental transfusion and low red cell mass in these babies is proffered.

Differetial staining of glycosaminoglycans, utilizing bacterial chondroitinase and chondrosulphatase

A histochemical method for the differentiation of glucosaminoglycans, utilizing bacterial chondroitinase ABC and chondro-4- and -6 sulphatases, and staining with Alcian blue, is presented. The method is applied on human tissues with known glucosaminoglycan content (ganglion cyst, umbilical cord, foetal cartilage, adult cartilage) and the results are compared with the results obtained by staining with Alcian blue at controlled pH levels, with or without prior digestion with bovine testicular hyaloronidase, and the Scott method, utilizing Alcian blue at varying concentrations of MgCl2. It is concluded that chondroitinase ABC digest chondroitin-4 and -6 sulphate and to some extent also hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulphate, but not heparin and keratosulphate.

The relation between umbilical cord tissue prostaglandin E2 levels, mode of onset of labour, fetal distress and method of delivery

The tissue concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured by radioimmunoassay in components of the umbilical cord. The levels were significantly higher in the walls of arteries than in non-vascular tissue from the umbilical cord. The highest values were found after emergency Caesarean sections and the lowest after induced ending in normal delivery. The use of forceps and the presence of fetal distress were both associated with significantly raised tissue concentrations of PGE2.

Simultaneous determination of neutral sugars and hexosamines in glycoproteins and acid mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans) by gas-liquid chromatography

A reliable and reproducible method for the simultaneous determination of neutral sugars and hexosamines in glycoproteins and acid mucopolysaccharides has been described. It involves the following steps: the release of neutral sugars and hexosamines from biopolymers by resin-catalysed hydrolysis, the nitrous acid deamination of resin-bound hexosamines in this hydrolysate to aldoses, and the determination of these newly formed anhydroaldoses together with the pre-existing neutral sugars as aldononitrile acetates by gas chromatography. Applications of this method to analyses of glycoprotein from urine of schizophrenic patients, bovine thyroglobulin, human brain glycoprotein, chondroitin sulfates from bovine vitreous humor, and veal brain, and human umbilical cord hyaluronic acid are given.

The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2alpha in tissues within the fetoplacental unit after spontaneous or induced labour

The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) were measured by radioimmunoassay in portions of umbilical cord, placenta, amnion, chorion and decidua. The samples were obtained during 12 confinements immediately after the delivery of a healthy baby. Labour had either occurred spontaneously (6 subjects) or had been induced approximately two weeks after the estimated date of delivery. The results showed that the concentration of PGE2 was significantly higher (Student's 't' test) in samples of placenta (P less than 0-05), decidua (P less than 0-025), umbilical cord (P less than 0-0125) and amnion (P less than 0-0025), from those patients who had started labour spontaneously. In contrast, the concentration of PGF2alpha was only raised to a significant extent (P less than 0-025) in the amnion. The findings are discussed.