Biochemical, ultrastructural and histochemical studies of cat placentae deficient in activity of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase.

Lysosomal alpha-mannosidase activity, oligosaccharide profiles, light and electron microscopy and lectin histochemistry studies were performed on full-term placentae obtained from five litters of cats. They resulted from breeding related cats who are obligate heterozygotes for lysosomal alpha-mannosidase deficiency. alpha-Mannosidase activity in placentae from affected kittens was less than 10 per cent of control, while in placentae from presumptive heterozygotes the activity was less than 50 per cent of control. High-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of oligosaccharides revealed massive accumulation of undegraded oligosaccharides in placentae of affected kittens. A small elevation was found in placentae from presumptive heterozygous kittens, and none was detected in placentae of normal kittens. Light and electron microscopic examinations revealed vacuolization of fetal endothelial and mesenchymal cells only in placentae of affected kittens. Succinylated wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin A stained the fetal fibroblasts only in placentae of affected kittens.