ELECTROPHORETIC AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC PATTERNS OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS OFTHE UMBILICAL-CORD VESSELS AND THEIR ALTERATION IN EPH-GESTOSIS

It was found that hyaluronic acid is the most abundant glycosaminoglyc an (GAG) both in the umbilical cord arteries and in the umbilical cord veins. Chromatographic and as well as electrophoretic studies demonst rated that EPH-gestosis (Edema-Proteinuria-Hypertension), the most com mon pathological syndrome occurring in pregnancy, is accompanied by pr emature replacement of hyaluronic acid by sulphated GAGs in the invest igated arteries but not in the veins, Such a replacement is a characte ristic feature of the ageing process. One may conclude that EPH-gestos is is associated with a ''premature ageing'' of the umbilical cord art erial walls. The mechanism and possible role of this phenomenon in pat hology are discussed.