Glycosaminoglycans of umbilical cord arteries and their alterations in EPH-gestosis.

It was found that the umbilical cord arteries (UCAs) contained several types of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), including hyaluronic acid and sulphated glycosaminoglycans. EPH-gestosis is accompanied by significant changes in the composition of extracellular matrix of the UCAs. Significant increase in collagen content was found. Total amount of GAGs did not change much but the quantitative ratio between various GAGs distinctly altered. A decrease in hyaluronic acid content and an increase in the amount of sulphated GAGs as well as a diminution of GAGs/collagen ratio were observed. These observations were confirmed by histochemical methods. The significance of these phenomena for collagen fibrillogenesis in the arterial wall is discussed.