Sialates and negative charge on the surface of syncytiotrophoblastic cells of full-term placentae in toxemic patients.
In the syncytiotrophoblastic surface of the toxemic full-term placentae, the sialates and their consequent negative charging were studied by both electron microscopic histochemistry (Ferritin method) and Western blot analysis. Evidence is presented showing (1) that the reactions with both the ferritin labelled Limulus Polyphemus Agglutinin (LPA-ferritin), specific to sialates, and the cationized ferritin, specific to a negative charge, decrease in the specimens of toxemic placentae, (2) that the density of sialates in placentae of severe gestational proteinuria or/and hypertension is statistically lower than that of severe gestational edema, and (3) that there is no difference between the blotted bands in normal placentae and toxemic ones regardless of the severity of the toxemia. These results indicate that the reduction of the surface negative charging is demonstrated in toxemic syncytiotrophoblasts and appears to be secondary to the decrease in the amount of sialate.