EXOGENOUS HEPARIN INDUCES AN INCREASE IN GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS OF THE CHICK-EMBRYO CHORIOALLANTOIC MEMBRANE - ITS POSSIBLE ROLE IN THE REGULATION OF ANGIOGENIC PROCESSES

In this study heparin (HE) was injected into the allantoic sac of chic k embryo eggs at 5, 9, 14 days of incubation. 48 h after injection gly cosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration was measured in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) in order to verify if HE-related CAM angiogenic activi ty previously demonstrated [Ribatti et al: Acta Anat 1987;130:257-263] might be correlated with changes in GAG concentration. The results sh owed that HE inoculation induced an increase of H-3-glucosamine incorp oration into total GAGs in comparison to control CAMs. Furthermore, HE altered the balance between the GAG classes, and in particular it pro duced a significant increase in the accumulation of hyaluronic acid an d heparan sulfate between 7 and 11 days of incubation in comparison to control CAMs.