GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN ANALYSIS IN AMNIOTIC-FLUID AND IN CULTURED FIBROBLASTS FROM NORMAL AND HOLOPROSENCEPHALIC HUMAN EMBRYONIC ORGANS

Glycosaminoglycans are polysaccharides involved in epithelial-mesenchy mal interaction and cell differentiation and provide a meshwork which is essential to maintain a proper intercellular milieu. The developmen t of embryonic organs can be accompanied by alterations in the glycosa minoglycan pattern. In pregnancies with malformed fetuses, there are a lterations in total glycosaminoglycans and their components (chondroit in 4-6 sulphate, dermatan sulphate, and hyaluronic acid) in amniotic f luid. We examined total glycosaminoglycans and the percentage variatio ns of the single classes in both amniotic fluid and culture medium of fibroblasts from heart, lung, and skin obtained from five normal human fetuses and one with holoprosencephaly. In the amniotic fluid total g lycosaminoglycans and their sulphate classes were increased, whereas h yaluronic acid was decreased, compared with controls. The extracellula r glycosaminoglycans showed hyaluronic acid reduction in skin, while c hondroitin 4-6 sulphate plus dermatan sulphate and heparan sulphate we re higher in skin and heart. Our data demonstrate that variations in t he glycosaminoglycan pattern are associated with alterations of the ce llular environment, which can prevent normal organogenesis. (C) 1997 b y John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.