chondroitin-sulfates and Eye-Diseases

Vitreous fibrosis was induced in rabbit eyes by intravitreal injection of erythrocytes. The fibrotic vitreous removed from experimental animals were then incubated with [3H]glucosamine at 37 degrees C for 24 h. The newly synthesized 3H-labeled glycosaminoglycans were isolated by 4 M guanidium hydrochloride extraction followed by pronase digestion. The 3H-labeled glycosaminoglycans were then characterized by gel filtration column chromatography and by specific enzymatic degradation, i.e., hyaluronidase, chondroitinase AC, and/or chondroitinase ABC. The disaccharides derived from chondroitinase ABC degradation were identified by thin-layer chromatography. We previously demonstrated that 91% of the total glycosaminoglycan synthesized by normal vitreous was hyaluronic acid. Our present results indicate that in the fibrotic vitreous, the synthesis of hyaluronic acid was decreased to 26%, whereas the synthesis of chondroitin sulfate increased to 59% of the total newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans. These results suggest that cells present in fibrotic vitreous resemble fibroblasts with respect to their activities in glycosaminoglycans synthesis.

Topics: Animals; Chondroitin Sulfates; Erythrocytes; Eye Diseases; Female; Glycosaminoglycans; Hyaluronic Acid; Male; Rabbits; Vitreous Body

Topics: Chondroitin; Chondroitin Sulfates; Eye Diseases; Ophthalmology