CONCENTRATION AND COMPOSITION OF SERUM AND PLASMA GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN DOMESTIC-ANIMAL SPECIES

Acid glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were isolated from serum and/or plasma of some domestic animals and the composition of the isolated GAG mixtu res were studied. Mean values of total GAG concentration, in terms of hexuronic acid, ranged from a maximum of about 12 mg/l in serum of cal ves, trained horses and sheep to about 9 mg/l in serum of cows and don keys and in plasma of trained horses to about 6.5 mg/l in sedentary ho rse serum and rabbit plasma to a minimum of 4 mg/l in dog serum and se dentary horse plasma. Statistically significant differences in total G AG concentrations (P < 0.0005) were found in horses between plasma and serum and also between sedentary and trained subjects. Chondroitin su lphate was the main component in serum and plasma GAG mixtures, accoun ting for 81-84% of total GAGs in the examined animals, except in cow s erum (72%), trained horse plasma (75.5%) and sheep serum (87%). Kerata n sulphate-like structures, measured as galactose, ranged from 12% in sheep serum to 17% in cattle serum. Fucose was associated with galacto se in GAG fractions, which supports the hypothesis that articular cart ilage is among the sites of origin of circulating GAGs. (C) 1997 Elsev ier Science Inc.