Dating the early pregnancy by sequential appearance of embryonic structures

A total of 97 transvaginal scans were performed from 4 to 12 weeks' gestation in normal and accurately dated gestations. The sequential appearance of six structures were examined: (1) the gestational sac only was present during week 4; (2) the yolk sac appeared in week 5; (3) the fetal pole with detectable heart motion was first seen in week 6; (4) the single unpartitioned ventricle in the brain marked week 7; (5) the falx cerebri appeared during week 9; and (6) the appearance and the disappearance of the physiologic midgut herniation were seen in week 8 and week 11, respectively. Inasmuch as the time in gestation at which these structures appear characterizes the gestational age more than any measurement at this age, we propose a practical method to determine the correct gestational age in early first-trimester pregnancy.

Umbilical cord is the major source of prostaglandin E2 in the gestational sac during term labor

The umbilical cord is an amniotic structure histologically resembling amnion lining the basal plate and reflected chorion. Prostaglandin E2 is secreted by amnion and is present in amniotic fluid. This study measured prostaglandin E2 production by amnion from all three locations to determine the relative contributions of prostaglandin E2 to amniotic fluid at term. Total surface areas and weights of umbilical cord, basal placental plate, and reflected chorionic amnion were measured in afterbirths from 20 normal patients delivered at term by elective repeat cesarean section before the onset of labor or vaginally after spontaneous onset of labor. Subsequently, 2 cm lengths of umbilical cord and 8 cm2 disks of basal placental plate and reflected chorionic amnion were incubated in perfusion chambers, and prostaglandin E2 production was measured by radioimmunoassay. Umbilical cord accounted for the least surface area (16% to 17%) but greatest tissue mass (75% to 76%). Both basal placental plate and reflected chorionic amnion increased prostaglandin E2 production 2.3-fold and 4.1-fold, respectively, after labor versus before labor, whereas umbilical cord prostaglandin E2 output was unchanged. However, umbilical cord accounted for 66% and 44% of the total prostaglandin E2 output before labor (697 +/- 169 ng/hr) versus (1201 +/- 380 ng/hr) after labor. Thus, of the three amniotic locations, umbilical cord represents the principal site of prostaglandin E2 production within the gestational sac.

Distribution of the beta 1 subgroup of the integrins in human cells and tissues

We studied the distribution of the beta 1 integrin subfamily in human tissues and cells by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunoblotting, using monoclonal antibody DH12, previously shown to react with the beta 1 subunit of the human fibronectin receptor. Crossreaction with the other beta subunits of the integrin family, which have 45% and 47% primary amino acid sequence identity with the beta 1 subunit, was excluded, as MAb DH12 did not react with the beta 2 subunit in granulocytes and the beta 3 subunit in thrombocytes. Reactivity with the anti-beta 1 antibody was found in skin, lung, heart, striated and smooth muscle, blood cells, liver, kidney, intestine, spleen and placenta. Thus, cells of mesodermal, ectodermal, and entodermal origin express the beta 1 subunit. In skin fibroblasts cultured in vitro, beta 1 subunit was also detected intracellularly. The wide distribution of the beta 1 family, originally detected in activated T-lymphocytes after prolonged culture in vitro, contrast with the restricted distribution of the beta 2 integrins on leucocytes.

Lactoferrin in human amniotic fluid

The concentration of human lactoferrin (LF) was measured by radioimmunoassay or non-competitive avidin--biotin assay in amniotic fluid, cord blood and in the decidua, trophoblast, fetal membranes and umbilical cord. Amniotic fluid was obtained by amniocentesis, and cord blood and tissue samples were taken after delivery or elective Caesarean section. No detectable concentration of LF was found in amniotic fluid before week 20 of pregnancy. A significant increase in the LF concentration was observed around week 30 and it remained high until term. In cord blood, an undetectable or low concentration of LF was measured. In tissue specimens the amount of LF was highest in the decidua (9-95 micrograms/g), a moderate concentration was assayed in the amniotic (2-37 micrograms/) and chorion (2-26 micrograms/g) membrane and in the trophoblast (5-35 micrograms/g). In the umbilical cord, the concentration was less than 1 microgram/g. These results suggest a decidual origin of LF. The role of LF during pregnancy is discussed.

Plasma concentrations of vitamin K1 and PIVKA-II in bottle-fed and breast-fed infants with and without vitamin K prophylaxis at birth

Plasma vitamin K1 and proteins induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA) were assayed simultaneously 1-4 days and 29-35 days after delivery in three groups of infants: breast-fed not receiving vitamin K at birth (n = 12), bottle-fed without vitamin K administration at birth (n = 7) and breast-fed receiving 1 mg vitamin K1 administered by intramuscular injection at birth (n = 13). The bottle-fed infants had a significantly higher vitamin K1 plasma level than breast-fed infants who did not receive vitamin K1 at birth. Extremely high levels of vitamin K were obtained 1-4 days after intramuscular administration. At the age of 1 month, breast-fed infants had the same plasma vitamin K1 concentration whether or not they had received vitamin K1 supplements. Decarboxy prothrombin (PIVKA-II) a reliable indicator of biochemical vitamin K deficiency, was found in 5 out of 12 breast-fed and in 2 out of 6 bottle-fed infants who had not received supplemental vitamin K1 after birth. In a separate study, we followed up to 90 days after birth a larger group if infants. PIVKA-II was found with significantly greater frequency in breast-fed infants receiving no vitamin K than in breast-fed infants receiving 1 mg vitamin K intramuscularly at birth, or in bottle-fed infants without extra vitamin K1. These data form a strong argument for routine vitamin K prophylaxis after birth for all breast-fed infants. The optimum dose and manner of administration require further study.

Immunohistochemical study of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) in the human and cynomolgus monkey placenta, umbilical cord and decidua

Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) were studied immunohistochemically by the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique in human and cynomolgus monkey placentae, membranes, umbilical cords and decidua. In early human placentae, TPA was localized mainly in the cell membranes of villous syncytio- and cyto-trophoblast. The cytoplasm of those trophoblastic cells were weakly stained with TPA. The membrane of basal chorionic trophoblast cells was strongly stained with TPA and the cytoplasm stained weakly. In early cynomolgus placentae, similar immunostaining results were obtained. However, the positive stainings for TPA was more marked in the cytoplasm of villous syncytiotrophoblast and basal chorionic trophoblast, and less marked in the cell membrane of villous cytotrophoblast. In early human and cynomolgus placentae, CA125 was not demonstrated immunohistochemically in the villi and basal chorion. In human and cynomolgus term placentae, the villous syncytiotrophoblast and basal and reflected chorionic trophoblast showed similar immunostaining as the early placentae. In addition, TPA was found in the amniotic epithelium in both sorts of placentae. TPA was not detected immunohistochemically in the umbilical cord and decidual cells. While weakly positive stains for CA125 were observed in decidual cells, CA125 was localized mainly in the membrane and cytoplasm of amniotic epithelium in both human and cynomolgus term placentae. TPA and CA125 are thus oncoplacental antigens and the monkey could serve as a model for their investigation.

Immunohistochemical localization of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and prostaglandin E2 in the human umbilical cord before and after labor

In this report immunohistochemical localization of 6-keto prostaglandin (PG)F1 alpha (the stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI2], PGE2, and its stable metabolite bicyclic PGE2 in umbilical amnion and vasculature is described. Umbilical cords were obtained at cesarean section from women who were not in labor (N = 7) and from women (N = 6) who went through normal labor and delivery at term. Study of both groups of umbilical cords allowed assessment of differential prostanoid metabolite localization pre- and post-labor. Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were stained by the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method. PGE2, bicyclic PGE2, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha localized to the amniotic cells covering the umbilical cord as well as to the endothelium of the umbilical veins in both groups (pre- and post-labor). No immunostaining was identified in the umbilical arteries. These findings suggest that amniotic cells and endothelial cells of the umbilical vein but not arteries are sites of synthesis or storage for the prostanoids 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2.

Feedback control of selected biosynthetic activities of chondrocytes in culture

The syntheses of proteoglycans and proteins by chondrocytes from the Swarm rat chondrosarcoma in primary cultures were modulated on the addition of matrical molecules. In the presence of hyaluronan, collagen or proteoglycan aggregates the synthesis of proteoglycans was depressed. The synthesis of collagen was also depressed in the presence of hyaluronan or collagen. In the presence of proteoglycan monomers, the incorporation of 35S-sulfate was enhanced in proportion to the concentration of the additive in the medium; the synthesis of protein was unaffected. The proteoglycan monomers synthesized in the presence of proteoglycan monomers were larger than those synthesized in their absence. In combinations, the exogenous macromolecules did not affect the selected biosynthetic activities to an extent greater than that which they exerted separately. The data suggest, however, that the proteoglycan monomers can counteract the inhibitory effects of the macromolecules which are inhibitory. The data, moreover, suggest that the chondrocytes of the Swarm rat chondrosarcoma have the potential to discriminate between proteoglycan monomers produced by self and those produced by chondrocytes of hyaline cartilages.

The immunocytochemical localization of new soluble placental tissue proteins (PP14, 16, 17, 19, 20 and PP21) in human and cynomolgus monkey placentae

Apparently Placenta-specific placental tissue proteins (PP14 and PP17) and solitary tissue proteins (PP16, 19, 20 and PP21) were investigated by avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique in the human and cynomolgus monkey placentae, membranes, decidua and umbilical cords. In human early placentae, PP14, 16, 17, 19 and PP21 were localized mainly in the cytoplasm of villous syncytiotrophoblast. PP20 was localized in the cytoplasm of basal chorionic trophoblasts. In human term placentae, positive stainings for PP16, 19 and PP21 were observed mainly in all kinds of trophoblastic cells, while positive stainings for PP14, 17 and PP20 were weakened in the trophoblastic cells. PP20 was clearly localized in the cytoplasm of Hofbauer-like cells in the villous stroma. The membrane of villous syncytiotrophoblast showed strongly positive stainings for PP21. PP21 was also localized in the membrane of amniotic and umbilical epithelium. The umbilical epithelium was cytoplasmically positive for PP14, 16 and PP20. Clear positive stainings for PP14 and PP21 were found in the cytoplasm of fetal polymorphonuclear neutrophils. All of the placental proteins were immunocytochemically positive in the decidual large cells. In the cynomolgus monkey placentae, similar immunostaining results were obtained. The monkey could, thus, serve as a model for the investigation of the placental proteins.

Zinc concentration in umbilical cord tissue and cord plasma in appropriate-for-gestational-age babies

Zinc concentration in cord plasma was determined in 148 healthy appropriate-for-gestational-age babies delivered at various gestational ages. Zinc concentration in cord tissue was also determined in 62 of these babies. There was a significant rise in the cord tissue zinc concentration just after the 35th week of gestational age; thereafter the levels remained relatively unchanged. The cord plasma zinc concentration decreased slightly with increasing gestational age, but these changes were not significant. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between cord tissue zinc concentration and birth weight. No correlation was found between cord plasma zinc concentration and birth weight or cord tissue zinc concentration.

Collagen type III predominance in newborns with congenital dislocation of the hip

The collagen content and the relative distribution of collagen Types I and III were measured in umbilical cords from newborns with congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) and healthy controls. The total content of collagen per mg dry tissue tended to be reduced. In newborns with CDH the collagen III/I ratio was higher than in the controls. If generalized, these alterations in collagen metabolism may explain the joint hypermobility seen in CDH. It is suggested that the redistribution of collagen Types III and I during normal fetal development and early infancy may be delayed in CDH.

Histochemical demonstration of hyaluronic acid molecules by alcian blue

Specimens of vitreous humour (monkey eye), Wharton jelly (human umbilical cord) and commercial hyaluronates were immersed in buffered fixative solutions containing either aldehydes and Alcian Blue, or aldehydes and Alcian Blue with MgCl2 as electrolyte. Two MgCl2 concentrations were used, 0.025 M and 0.3 M. Immersion in both solutions induced formation of precipitates which were postfixed in OsO4, dehydrated and embedded for thin section electron microscopy. The use of the same fixative solution produced morphologically comparable precipitates from all three materials. The precipitates, especially after fixation in the presence of electrolyte, were composed of linear, unbranched filaments, frequently aggregated into bundles. The filaments were considered to be molecules of hyaluronic acid.

Antiheparin activity in human endothelial cells

Human endothelial cells possess antiheparin activity that neutralizes the anticoagulant action of heparin as measured by different tests of the clotting system. The antiheparin activity appears to be associated with an acid-soluble basic protein present in the particulate fraction of the endothelial cell cytoplasm. This finding might have some relevance in the maintenance of hemostasis. Furthermore, it might also have a pharmacological role in terms of resistance to exogenously infused heparin in patients with thromboembolic disorders.

Monoclonal antibodies to human 54,000 molecular weight plasminogen activator inhibitor from fibrosarcoma cells--inhibitor neutralization and one-step affinity purification

Mouse monoclonal antibodies were derived against a plasminogen activator inhibitor with a mol. wt. of approximately 54,000 (54 K) from the human fibrosarcoma cell line HT-1080. Screening for hybrids producing antibodies directed against the inhibitor was performed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by immunoblotting. Four clones of hybridomas producing IgG1 antibodies were further characterized. The inhibitor was purified approximately 50-fold to homogeneity from conditioned cell culture fluid with a yield of approximately 85% by a one-step procedure using Sepharose-conjugated monoclonal antibody. In the 125I-fibrin plate assay one of the antibodies neutralized the effect of the inhibitor on urokinase-type plasminogen activator. Two of the antibodies bound complexes between urokinase-type plasminogen activator and inhibitor while the remaining two antibodies did not. The antibodies could be used for immunocytochemical localization of the inhibitor in HT-1080 cells. All four antibodies cross-reacted with a plasminogen activator inhibitor derived from cultured human umbilical cord endothelial cells.

Substrate-bonded hyaluronic acid exhibits a size-dependent stimulation of chondrogenic differentiation of stage 24 limb mesenchymal cells in culture

Extracellular matrix molecules including glycosaminoglycans have been implicated in several differentiative and morphogenetic processes including cell aggregation and migration. Previous reports have shown that plating of stage 24 limb mesenchyme cells onto hyaluronic acid (HA) bonded to the culture substrate causes an increase in the number of cells exhibiting chondrogenesis. This increased chondrogenesis is now shown to be dependent upon the source of the HA. When limb mesenchymal cells are plated onto HA from bovine vitreous humor, human umbilical cord, or large molecular weight HA (Healon), increased chondrogenesis is observed only on the bovine vitreous humor HA. Unsulfated chondroitin, which has a structure and charge density similar to those of HA, is capable of enhancing chondrogenesis, while cells plated onto sulfated glycosaminoglycan substrates are indistinguishable from controls. The evidence in this report suggests that the differentiation response is related to the molecular size of the HA bound to the culture substrate. Healon and human umbilical cord HA are ineffective because their molecular weight is too large, while smaller HA derived from these larger molecules or normally present in bovine vitreous humor preparations stimulates the chondrogenic differentiation of stage 24 limb mesenchymal cells in culture. The most active size class of HA elutes from a Sepharose CL-2B column with a Kav between 0.6 and 0.7 and, thus, has a molecular weight of approximately 200,000-400,000. These observations reinforce the hypothesis that local cues have an informational effect on the differentiation of chick limb mesenchymal cells.

Laminin distribution in human decidua and immature placenta. An immunoelectron microscopic study (avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method)

An immunoelectron microscopic study was carried out on human placenta and decidua with the use of preembedding, the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique, and rabbit anti-murine laminin antibody. Laminin was detected in the lamina lucida of basement membrane of placental villi, amniotic membranes, umbilical cord, endometrial glands, and blood vessels. No positive laminin immunostaining was observed in intracytoplasmic organelles. However, positive immunostaining surrounded decidual cells as a more or less continuous linear membrane. It is suggested that laminin, as a component of this basement membrane-like material that has already been reported in decidual cells, may be related to the hormonal stimulation occurring during pregnancy and trophoblastic attachment.

[Endocrinological and histochemical studies of placental sulfatase deficiency]

A pregnancy with placental sulfatase deficiency was suspected when a 31-year-old patient at 36 weeks of gestation was found to have extremely low urinary estriol excretion but an otherwise normal prenatal course. The maternal plasma level of estrogens was extremely low, whereas dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S) was normal. Following intravenous infusion of 100mg DHA-S, no rise in urinary or serum estrogens was noted. At 40 weeks of gestation, a male infant was delivered vaginally. In vitro incubation study confirmed the diagnosis of placental sulfatase deficiency. Arylsulfatase C activity was not demonstrated in sulfatase deficient placenta, whereas arylsulfatase C activity was detected in the cytoplasma of syncytiotrophoblast cells of all normal placentas, by light and electron microscopy.

Investigation of beta-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone in placenta, amniotic membrane and umbilical cord using an immunoperoxidase technique

The identification of immunoreactive beta-endorphin, beta-lipotropin and ACTH from extracts of human placentas by radioimmunoassay suggests a probable synthesis of these peptides in the placenta. In this study we investigated the presence of beta-endorphin and ACTH in placenta, amniotic membranes and umbilical cord using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining technique. Tissues were obtained immediately after delivery, fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. As control tissues autopsy specimens of pituitary glands from adults and newborns were used. All sections of pituitary glands showed a positive reaction; negative results were observed in sections of placentas, umbilical cords and amniotic membranes. We conclude that no intracellular storage of beta-endorphin and ACTH takes place in the examined tissues.

Clinical results and concentrations of cefmenoxime in serum, amniotic fluid, mother's milk, and umbilical cord

Cefmenoxime administered intravenously was used to treat a variety of gynecologic and obstetric infections in 40 patients. Many were mixed infections. The mean age of the patients was 39.7 +/- 2.39 years. The dosage of cefmenoxime was 2 g per day (n = 30) or 1 g per day (n = 10). Cefmenoxime levels were assayed microbiologically in serum, milk, amniotic fluid, and placental tissues. The overall bacteriologic cure rate was 86 percent. Clinically, 100 percent of the patients were treated successfully. Side effects were generally mild, and in no case was treatment discontinued. Twelve hours after the last bolus injection, levels of cefmenoxime were 1.1 microgram/ml in serum and 1.75 microgram/ml in milk. Thirty minutes after a 1 g bolus injection in patients undergoing cesarean section, mean maternal serum concentrations were 33 micrograms/ml. Concentrations were 7.4 micrograms/ml in umbilical cord blood and 2.3 micrograms/ml in amniotic fluid.

Isolation and characterization of a urokinase-type plasminogen activator (Mr = 54,000) from cultured human endothelial cells indistinguishable from urinary urokinase

A urokinase-type plasminogen activator secreted by subcultured normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells was purified and compared to urinary urokinase (Mr = 54,000). The enzyme was isolated from serum-free conditioned medium in the presence of 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100 by p-aminobenzamidine-agarose affinity chromatography, followed by Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration, followed by immunoadsorption chromatography on affinity purified specific anti-urokinase IgG-Sepharose CL-4B. This plasminogen activator form was obtained from the culture medium with a yield of about 47% and specific activity of about 93,000 IU/mg of protein, and represented approximately 18% of the total multiple molecular plasminogen activator activity forms present in endothelial cell conditioned medium. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme showed a single band of plasminogen activator activity with an estimated molecular weight of about 54,000 that was completely inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) as well as a single band of radioactivity with similar molecular weight for both the isolated L-[4,5-3H]leucine and [3H]DFP-labeled enzyme. The radiolabeled protein focused as a single major band with a pI value of pH 8.5. The endothelial cell activator and urokinase appeared to be identical in terms of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, location of the [3H]DFP-labeled active site in the Mr = 33,000 heavy chain and [3H]DFP-labeled active site tryptic peptide, and two-dimensional 125I-labeled tryptic peptide maps. In quenching experiments of the fibrinolytic activities using affinity purified specific anti-urokinase IgG the endothelial cell-derived activator and urokinase appeared to be immunochemically identical, but unrelated to tissue plasminogen activator. These results indicate that the Mr = 54,000 urokinase-type plasminogen activator from cultured normal human endothelial cells is similar to, or identical with, Mr = 54,000 urinary urokinase.

Identification of immunoreactive forms of human erythrocyte band 3 in nonerythroid cells

Antibodies directed to the cytoplasmic domain of human erythrocyte band 3, the major integral protein of the erythrocyte membrane which is thought to be the main anchoring site of the membrane cytoskeleton, were demonstrated in the present study to react with the membrane of various nonerythroid cells, such as human leucocytes, fibroblasts or human umbilical mesenchyme cells, amniotic epithelium and vascular smooth muscle. In cultured fibroblasts staining was confined to small dots and streaks associated with both the dorsal and ventral cell membrane. In human lymphocytes band 3 antigen accompanied capping of concanavalin A binding surface receptors. The immunoreactive form of band 3 in fibroblasts was shown by immunoblotting studies to be a polypeptide of approximately 60 000 dalton. This polypeptide is immunologically and electrophoretically related to a major immunoreactive form of band 3 naturally occurring in the red blood cell membrane. Considering the recent identification in nonerythroid cells of immunoreactive forms of other major components of the erythrocyte membrane cytoskeleton, the present observation in nucleated cells of a polypeptide related to erythrocyte band 3 may indicate some of the features of erythrocyte membrane architecture are also present in nonerythroid cells.

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.