Abstract
Acidic glycoconjugates (glycosaminoglycans and glycoprotein) were obtained, from myometrium of ovariectomized rabbit under estrogenic condition, by pronase digestion, fractionation with cetylpyridinium chloride and Dowex 1 column chromatography, in succession. Composition of acidic glyco-conjugates was determined enzymatically, employing Streptomyces hyaluronidase, chondroitinase AC II, chondroitinase ABC and crude heparinase. Each glycocon-jugate was distributed in 3_??_8 fractions obtained by Dowex 1 column chromato-graphy, indicating its charge and/or molecular heterogeneity. Acidic glyco-conjugates consisted of hyaluronic acid (13.4%), chondroitin sulfates A plus C (39.4 %), dermatan sulfate (24.6%), heparan sulfate (18.7%) and acidic glycoprotein (most probably sialoglycoprotein) (3.9%). Composition of acidic glycoconjugates in myometrium differed remarkably from that in whole uterus. Myometrium was abundant in chondroitin sulfate isomers (chondroitin sulfates A plus C plus dermatan sulfate), but lacked sulfated glycoprotein. The present results suggested that myometrium and endometrium of uterus may play quite different roles in reproduction.
