Abstract
1. Acidic glycosaminoglycans (AGAG) in arterial tissue were reviewed biochemically. It was followed by general biochemical methods for the analyses of the aortic AGAG, combined with the results of differential analyses in the intima, media and adventitia in human and bovine aortae.
2. The aortic AGAG existed in higher contents in the inner layers than in outor layers. Gel filtration by Sephadex G-25 after digestion with chondroitinase-AC indicated that the concentration of chondroitin-4-and -6- sulfates is higher in the intima than in the adventitia.
3. Electrophoretic separation prior to and after enzymatic digestion of aortic AGAG indicated that the AGAG in the adventitia predominated the ratio of dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid.
4. These results were substantiated by the data obtained with enzymatic digestion at the disaccharide subunits: paper chromatographic separation followed by chemical analysis on the separated unsaturated disaccharides.
5. Physiological function of the aortic AGAG was manifested as anticoagulants by thrombelastography. Dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate in the aortic AGAG exhibited the potent property among the other AGAG. It was suggested that not only AGAG but also proteoglycans as macromolecules in the vessel wall play a function as anticoagulants and antithrombogenic agents against the atherosclerotic process.
