Endotheliochorial placental glycosylation reflects evolutionary divergence between Felidae species (Felis catus and Panthera leo) and Canidae (Canisfamiliaris)

Endotheliochorial cat (Felis catus) and lion (Panthera leo) term placentae and one 6 week placenta (term 60–63 days) from a dog (Canis familiaris) were stained with a panel of 24 lectins to compare glycosylation at the feto-maternal interface. Glycan expression in lion and cat placentae was very similar apart from the occurrence of terminal α-galactose in the lion trophoblast. The dog differed in several respects, particularly in the trophoblast, consistent with species-specific glycotypes differing according to the degree of their evolutionary divergence. The data suggest that evolutionary effects on the glycotype are most readily observed in trophoblast. •Endotheliochorial placental glycosylation in cat, lion and dog was examined with 24 lectins.•Cat and lion glycans were similar apart from terminal α-galactose expression in lion trophoblast.•Glycans in dog placenta differed with respect to several classes of glycan, mainly in trophoblast.•This suggests the presence of a glycocode diverging with evolutionary distance between species.