FIGURE 6.

Maternal dietary Neu5Gc is metabolically incorporated in utero in newborn tissues. A, Western blot analysis with αNeu5Gc IgY demonstrates Neu5Gc on multiple glycoproteins of fetal small intestinal homogenates (top) that is sensitive to periodate treatment (+NaIO₄ reaction, bottom). B, immunohistochemistry with αNeu5Gc IgY of multiple tissues from in utero loaded Cmah^−/− newborns indicated widespread incorporation of dietary Neu5Gc, in patterns that exceed those seen with adult feeding. In utero loaded mice demonstrate staining with αNeu5Gc IgY many tissues, including heart, smooth muscle (surrounding intestinal villi), pancreas, liver, and kidney (top row). Staining was controlled with 10% chimpanzee serum block (bottom row). C, consistent with the human condition, we were still unable to load Neu5Gc into the brain, although the cranial and dermis tissue surrounding the brain show staining with αNeu5Gc IgY (top row) that is sensitive to block with chimpanzee serum (bottom row). Scale bar, 100 μm.