Changes of Glycosaminoglycan Sulphation in the Cornea of Lathyric Chick Embryos

Abstract

Lathyrogen β-aminopropionitrile and radioactive sulphate were administered to 15-day-old chick embryos by injection into allantoic cavity. On consecutive days, experimental lathyrism was evidenced by a decrease of the tensile strength of the neck of the chick embryos and by the inhibition of radioactive sulphate incorporation into corneal stroma and nasal cartilage. After the chromatographic separation of corneal glycosaminoglycans, it was found that β-aminopropionitrile specifically lowered the sulphation of galactosaminoglycan with radioactive sulphate by about 30% compared with the control, whereas the sulphation of glucosaminoglycan remained unchanged.