Composition and significance of glycosaminoglycans in the uterus and placenta of mammals

• Main Authors: Gleidson Benevides de Oliveira, André Menezes do Vale, Amílton Cesar dos Santos, Carlos Eduardo Bezerra de Moura, Hugo Alexandre de Oliveira Rocha, Moacir Franco de Oliveira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto de Tecnologia do Paraná (Tecpar) 2015-08-01
• Series: Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology
• Subjects: Extracellular matrix; hormonal fluctuation; reproductive events; euterium mammals; pathology
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-89132015000400512&lng=en&tlng=en

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are heteropolysaccharides in mammalian tissue and consist of repeated disaccharide units with mono-sulfated or non-sulfated monosaccharides. GAGs are important components of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) with several physiological roles, in the recognition, migration, adhesion, proliferation and differentiation processes. They are also important in angiogenesis, blood homeostasis, immune reactions, follicule development and also in the development of pathologies such as infertility, tumors and metastases. It has been shown that the profile of glycosaminoglycans in the uterine and placental tissues is highly variable throughout the reproductive cycle and during pregnancy. It may be directly related to their physiological or pathological functions in the tissue. The latter has recently triggered special clinical interest. Current review collaborates for a deeper knowledge on the profile and importance of GAGs in uterine and placental tissues throughout the reproductive cycle and pregnancy. It also covers information on the involvement of these molecules in pathological processes.