title: Identification and distribution of chondroitin sulfate in the three electric organs of the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus (L.).
abstract: The electrogenic tissue of the electric eel Electrophorus electricus (L.) is distributed in three well-defined electric organs, the Main electric organ, Sach's organ and Hunter's organ. Sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composition was characterized in the three electric organs of the electric eel. Sulfated GAGs were analyzed in the electric organs using metachromatic staining, biochemical analysis including electrophoresis before and after specific enzymatic or chemical degradations, and immunostaining with an antibody against chondroitin sulfate (CS). Our results showed in the three electric organs that CS was the main sulfated GAG species detected, accompanied by small and diminutive amounts of CS/dermatan sulfate hybrid chains and heparan sulfate (HS), respectively. However, HS was not detected in the Sach's organ. CS was predominantly detected in the innervated membrane face of the electroplaques in the three electric organs. Our findings extend previous observations on the GAG composition in the electric organs of E. electricus and provide new information regarding the tissue distribution and location of CS.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Tecido Conjuntivo, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maisa L S
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Cristiano F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Maria-Aparecida O
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Domingos
authors.forename: Nilson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nunes-Tavares
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasson-Voloch
authors.forename: Luiz E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nasciutti
authors.forename: Luiz-Claudio F
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000378:metabolism*; D004593:Electrophorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry
chemical_list: D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; C013786:A73025