title: Metabolic and structural studies on serum- and liver-glycosaminoglycans in normal and liver-injured rats.
abstract: The incorporation of [35S]sulfate into total and specific types of serum glycosaminoglycans was studied in rats with acute, subacute or chronic liver injury (liver cirrhosis), and compared with that of normal rats. The macromolecular (protein-bound) nature of serum glycosaminoglycans in normal and diseased animals was also analysed. The results show a strong increase in rate and extent of [35S]sulfate incorporation into total serum glycosaminoglycans for acutely but a decrease for subacutely and chronically liver damaged rats. The time-course of distribution of label between serum chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate exhibits significant changes in liver-injured animals, in particular a relatively high proportion of dermatan [35S]sulfate in rats with cirrhotic livers. In comparison with serum glycosaminoglycans the labeling profile of glycosaminoglycans in the cirrhotic liver was quite different (heparan sulfate:dermatan sulfate:chondroitin sulfate = 1:0.34:0.09) and changed only insignificantly during a 1 h labeling period. The protein-bound moiety of serum glycosaminoglycans was not affected by liver disease; but the elution profile of chondroitin [35S]sulfate from Dowex 1 X 2 for treated rats was altered, thus indicating a structural modification of its carbohydrate chain.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004588:Electrophoresis, Cellulose Acetate; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans