RESUMEN
AIMS: Hyperglycemia increases glycosylation with O-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) contributing to placental dysfunction and fetal growth impairment. Our aim was to determine how O-GlcNAc levels are affected by hyperglycemia and the O-GlcNAc distribution in different placental regions. MAIN METHODS: Female Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: severe hyperglycemia (>300â¯mg/dL; nâ¯=â¯5); mild hyperglycemia (>140â¯mg/dL, at least than two time points during oral glucose tolerance test; nâ¯=â¯7) or normoglycemia (<120â¯mg/dL; nâ¯=â¯6). At 21â¯days of pregnancy, placental tissue was collected and processed for morphometry and immunohistochemistry analyses, or properly stored at -80⯰C for protein quantification by western blot. KEY FINDINGS: Placental index was increased only in severe hyperglycemic rats. Morphometric analysis showed increased junctional zone and decreased labyrinth region in placentas exclusively from the severe hyperglycemic group. Proteins targeted by O-GlcNAc were detected in all regions, with increased O-GlcNAc levels in the hyperglycemic group compared to control and mild hyperglycemic rats. Proteins in endothelial and trophoblast cells were the main target for O-GlcNAc. Whereas no changes in O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) expression were detected, O-GlcNAcase (OGA) expression was reduced in placentas from the severe hyperglycemic group and augmented in placentas from the mild hyperglycemic group, compared with their respective control groups. SIGNIFICANCE: Placental O-GlcNAc overexpression may contribute to placental dysfunction, as indicated by the placental index. Additionally, morphometric alterations, occurring simultaneously with increased O-GlcNAc accumulation in the placental tissue may contribute to placental dysfunction during hyperglycemia.