Distribution and composition of glycosaminoglycans in the left human coronary arterial branches under myocardial bridge

The distribution and composition of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are reported in the anterior interventricular branch under the intermyocardial bridge (M B) and the ventricular branch without bridge, both from the left human coro nary artery. Chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS) and heparan su lfate (HS) were purified and quantified by a combination of electrophoretic migration and enzymatic degradation. The absolute amounts of GAGs in the i ntermyocardial bridge segment (MB) increased by 47%, when compared to the p re (PreMB) and post (PostMB) segments and the ventricular arterial branch ( VB). Furthermore, the relative distribution of GAGs in the intermyocardial bridge segment differs when compared to the pre and post segments as well a s in the ventricular arterial branch, due to a change in the proportion of DS and CS of 41.9 and 32.4%, compared to 36.4 and 39.7%, respectively. Thes e findings give support to the possible involvement of GAGs in the intermyo cardial bridge segment, avoiding local thrombus deposition, reducing athero sclerotic development and moreover giving protection against vessel deforma tion caused by the systolic pressure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd . All rights reserved.