ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND LOCALIZATION OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS INGROWING ANTLERS OF WAPITI (CERVUS-ELAPHUS)

Glycosaminoglycans were isolated from the four sections (tip, upper, m iddle and base) of the main beam of growing antlers of wapiti (Cervus elaphus) by papain digestion and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. Chondro itin sulfate was the major glycosaminoglycan in each section of antler accounting for, on average, 88% of the total uronic acid. The yield o f chondroitin sulfate liberated from the tissue was approximately 6-fo ld greater in the cartilaginous (tip and upper) sections than in the b ony (middle and base) sections. This was consistent with the higher in tensity of glycosaminoglycan staining with either Alcian Blue or Safra nin-O. The majority (average 88%) of chondroitin sulfate was precipita ted with 40 and 50% ethanol. The average molecular size of chondroitin sulfate determined by gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 tended to be greater in the 40% ethanol than in the 50% ethanol fraction. In ei ther fraction, the molecular size of chondroitin sulfate was smaller i n cartilaginous tissues than in osseous tissues of growing antler. In addition to chondroitin sulfate, the antler contained small amounts of hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate and keratan sulfate. The immunohist ochemical study showed wide distribution of chondroitin sulfate, decor in, and keratan sulfate throughout the antler. On the other hand, kera tan sulfate was more prominent in the cartilaginous sections than in t he bony sections where the anti-keratan sulfate monoclonal antibody st aining was seen in the osteoid tissue only. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.