Distribution of the Glycosaminoglycans in the Abdominal Walls of the Rats

Abstract

A study has been made of the glycosaminoglycans and glycopeptide in the abdominal walls of the rats. The abdominal walls were separated into three layers ; dermis, adipose tissue and muscle containing fascia, and then uronic acid, sulfate, hexose and sialic acid contents were measured in each layer. Values per g of wet tissue were highest in the skin, whereas those of dry tissue were highest in the adipose tissue. Cellulose acetate strip-electrophoresis of materials in barbital buffer revealed the presence of three alcian blue positive fractions in every layer. The relative proportions of the fractions which corresponded in mobility to hyaluronic acid, to heparan sulfate and to chondroitin sulfates were approximately 40 %, 10 % and 50 %, respectively.