Glycoconjugates (glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins) and glycogen in the human cervix uteri

Glycoconjugates and glycogen obtained from the cervix uteri of nonpregnant women of proliferative phase and secretory phase, and from the postpartum cervix uteri were determined by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membrane and chemical analysis before and after enzymatic digestion and nitrous acid treatment. Although the contents of neutral glycopeptide fraction in these tissues were similar, the glycogen content in the postpartum tissue greatly decreased. The contents in terms of hexosamine of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, heparan sulfate and acidic glycopeptides in the postpartum tissue greatly increased in comparison with those in the nonpregnant tissues, whereas that of dermatan sulfate slightly decreased. In addition, dermatan sulfate in the postpartum tissue contained a small portion of non-sulfate disaccharide units, which was not detected in the nonpregnant tissues. The results indicate that significant changes in the contents of glycoconjugates and glycogen of human cervix uteri occur in ripening. The roles of these substances in the cervical ripening are discussed.