Characterization of glycosaminoglycans from human normal and scoliotic nasal cartilage with particular reference to dermatan sulfate.

The composition and the distribution of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) present in normal human nasal cartilage (HNNC), were examined and compared with those in human scoliotic nasal cartilage (HSNC). In both tissues, hyaluronan (HA), keratan sulfate (KS) and the galactosaminoglycans (GalAGs)--chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS)--were identified. The overall GAG content in HSNC was approx. 30% higher than the HNNC. Particularly, a 114% increase in HA, and 46% and 86% in KS and DS, respectively, was recorded. CS was the main type of GAG in both tissues with no significant compositional difference. GalAG chains in HSNC exhibited an altered disaccharide composition which was associated with significant increases of non-sulfated and 6-sulfated disaccharides. DS, which was identified and quantitated for the first time in HNNC and HSNC, contained low amounts of iduronic acid (IdoA), 18% and 28% respectively. In contrast to other tissues, where IdoA residues are organized in long IdoA rich repeats, the IdoA residues of DS in human nasal cartilage seemed to be randomly distributed along the chain. DS chains in HSNC were of larger average molecular size than those from HNNC. These results clearly indicate the GAG content and pattern in both HNNC and HSNC and demonstrate that scoliosis of nasal septum cartilage is related to quantitative and structural modifications at the GAG level.     

Effect of the gonadal status and the gender on glycosaminoglycans profile in the lower urinary tract of dogs

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) form a functional component of connective tissues that affect the structural and functional integrity of the lower urinary tract (LUT). The specific GAGs of physiological relevance are both nonsulfated (hyaluronan) and sulfated GAGs (chondroitin sulphate [CS], dermatan sulphate [DS], keratan sulphate [KS], and heparan sulphate [HS]). As GAG composition in the LUT is hormonally regulated, we postulated that gonadectomy-induced endocrine imbalance alters the profile of GAGs in the canine LUT. Four regions of the LUT (body and neck of the bladder as well as the proximal and distal urethra) from 20 clinically healthy dogs (5 intact males, 5 intact anoestrus females, 4 castrated males, and 6 spayed females) were collected, wax-embedded and sectioned. Alcian blue staining at critical electrolyte concentrations was performed on the sections to determine total GAGs, hyaluronan, total sulfated GAGs, combined components of CS and DS, as well as KS and HS. The amount of staining was evaluated in 3 tissue layers, i.e., epithelium, subepithelial stroma and muscle within a region. Overall, hyaluronan (67.1%) was the predominant GAG in the LUT. Among sulfated GAGs, a combined component of KS and HS was found to be 61.8% and 38.2% for CS and DS. Gonadal status significantly affected GAG profiles in the LUT (P < 0.01). All GAG components were lower (P < 0.05) in body of the bladder of gonadectomized dogs. Total sulfated GAGs and a combined component of KS and HS were lower (P < 0.05) in all 4 regions of gonadectomized dogs. Except for a combined component of CS and DS, decreases in all GAGs were found more consistently in the muscle compared to other tissue layers. Differences between genders became obvious only when considered along with the effect of gonadal status. In gonadectomized dogs, changes in GAG components in the LUT were more consistent in females compared to males; this may partly explain different levels of risk in the development of urinary incontinence between genders. Quantitative differences in GAG profiles found between intact and gonadectomized dogs indicate a potential role of gonadectomy-induced endocrine imbalance in modifying GAG composition in the canine LUT. Profound alteration in the pattern of GAGs in gonadectomized dogs may compromise structural and functional integrity of the LUT and is possibly involved in the underlying mechanism of urinary incontinence post neutering.     

Studies on cartilage formation XXL Activity of enzymes belonging to the pentose-phosphate cycle in the regenerating articular surface

The distal articular surface of the femur was removed operatively in 36 dogs. In the regenerating chondrifying articular surface and in the granulation tissue adhering to the capsule glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities were determined 7, 33 and 70 days after operation. In both tissues the activity of these enzymes characteristic of the pentose phosphate cycle ws the highest in the early postoperative stage. This initial increase in activity was followed by a marked reduction in the regenerating articular surface and by a moderate decrease in the tissue adhering to the capsule. For the loss in activity occurring in the chondrifying articular surface, the connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) are responsible. Cartilage precursors and young chondrocytes show a high glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate activity. Presumably, in the given case of the functions of the pentose-phosphate cycle the NADPH generation and supply of building stones prevail. The activity of these enzymes ws determined in the articular cartilage and in the synovial membrane of the knee joint in further 18 dogs. The activity in the articular cartilage was very slight as compared to that in the synovial membrane.     

Identification, quantification and fine structural characterization of glycosaminoglycans from uterine leiomyoma and normal myometrium

The type, amount and fine chemical composition of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) present both in human normal myometrium and uterine leiomyoma have been studied. GAGs were fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, isolated by gel-permeation chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B and characterized using electrophoresis in cellulose acetate membranes, specific enzymic treatments and analysis by high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE). No statistical intrabatch differences in total GAG content in both tissues were identified, whereas significant interbatch differences between normal myometrium and uterine leiomyoma were recorded. Hyaluronan (HA), chondroitin sulphate (CS), dermatan sulphate (DS), heparan sulphate (HS) and keratan sulphate (KS) were identified in both tissues. Statistically significant (P 相似文献   

Examination of corneal proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans by rotary shadowing and electron microscopy

Proteoglycans (PGs) from cornea and their relevant glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains, dermatan sulphate (DS) and keratin sulphate (KS), were examined by electron microscopy following rotary shadowing, and compared with hyaluronan (HA), chondroitin sulphate (CS), alginate, heparin, heparan sulphate (HS) and methyl cellulose. Corneal DS PG had the tadpole shape previously seen in scleral DS FG, and the images from corneal KS PG could be interpreted similarly, although the GAG (KS) chains were very much fainter than those of DS PG GAG. Isolated GAG (KS, DS, CS, HA, etc.) examined in the same way showed images that decreased very significantly in clarity and contrast, in the sequence HA greater than DS greater than CS greater than KS. The presence of secondary and tertiary structures in the GAGs may be at least partly responsible for these variations. HA appeared to be double stranded, and DS frequently self-aggregated, KS and HS showed tendencies to coil into globular shapes. It is concluded that it is unsafe to assume the absence of GAGs, based on these techniques, and quantitative measurements of length may be subject to error. The results on corneal DS PG confirm and extend the hypothesis that PGs specifically associated with collagen fibrils are tadpole shaped.     

Distinctive fibroblastic subpopulations in skin and oral mucosa demonstrated by differences in glycosaminoglycan content

Summary The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of rabbit skin, oral mucosa, and cultured [³H]-glucosamine-labeled dermal and submucosal fibroblasts was compared. Skin contained predominantly dermatan sulfate (DS) and a small amount of hyaluronic acid (HA), whereas mucosa contained primarily keratan sulfate (KS) and smaller quantities of HA and DS. Culture medium from dermal and submucosal fibroblasts contained GAGs co-electrophoresing with DS, HA, and chondroitin sulfate (CS), although the relative proportions of these GAG differed. CS isolated from dermal and mucosal fibroblast culture medium co-electrophoresed with chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4-S) on cellulose acetate, whereas dermal medium CS was resistant to digestion by chondroitinase ABC, and mucosal medium CS was chondroitinase ABC-susceptible. The pericellular matrix of dermal fibroblasts contained primarily DS and C4-S/C6-S, as confirmed by chondroitinase ABC digestion; the corresponding fraction of mucosal fibroblasts contained HS and a GAG co-electrophoresing with a C6-S standard, yet resistant to digestion by chondroitinase ABC. Thus the GAG content of dermal and mucosal fibroblasts differed both qualitatively in terms of the type of GAG secreted into the culture medium and pericellular matrix, and quantitatively, in terms of the relative proportions of these GAGs in both fractions. These differences support the concept of distinctive fibroblastic subpopulations in skin and mucosal tissue, inasmuch as the cells were subjected to identical culturing conditions. This work was supported by research grant 15878 (C.N.B.) from the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children and DE 07803 (C.N.B.) from the National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.     

Glycosaminoglycans of Rat Cerebellum: II. A Developmental Study

Total and individual glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were determined in rat cerebellum in tissue explants at various postnatal ages. The major constituents of GAGs were chondroitin sulfate (CS), hyaluronic acid (HA), and heparan sulfate (HS). Dermatan sulfate (DS) and keratan sulfate (KS) could not be detected and therefore each amounts to less than 5% of all GAGs at all ages studied. HA was the prominent GAG during postnatal development and only a minor constituent at adult ages, whereas CS was the predominant GAG in adulthood. HS remained relatively constant throughout development. The incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into individual GAGs was highest for HS at postnatal day 6, whereas HA showed intermediate and CS the lowest levels of incorporation during the first postnatal week. All major GAGs showed the lowest incorporation values at adult ages.     

Studies on cartilage formation. XXII. Investigations of certain oxidative metabolic processes in regenerating articular cartilage

The distal articular surface of the femur was surgically removed in 57 dogs. Succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase activities were assayed on postoperative days 7, 20, 26, 33 and 70 in the regenerating, chondrifying articular surface and in the granulation tissue adhering to the capsule. In the 70-day samples, the cyanide-induced inhibition of oxygen consumption was determined and enzyme histochemical reactions (cytochrome oxidase, monoamine oxidase, xanthine oxidase, peroxidase and "catalase") were performed. The succinate dehydrogenase activity was the highest in the early postoperative stage in both tissues. This was followed by a definite decrease and a subsequent significant increase in activity when chondrification took place. Measurement of cytochrome oxidase activity could not reveal any convincing result, presumably because of the properties of the tissues studied. The oxygen consumption by the chondrifying articular surface at 70 days was inhibited to about 50% by cyanide, and about 90% inhibition was observed in the tissue adhering to the capsule. The cells of the regenerating articular surface possess cytochrome oxidase and a cyanide- (and sodium azide-) resistant oxidase activity. The enzyme activity of the cartilaginous islets exceeded that of their connective tissue environment. The cytochrome oxidase activity increased in the cells during cartilage differentiation. Presumably, some further cyanide-sensitive and cyanide-resistant oxidases are present in chondroblasts and young chondrocytes.     

Effect of sulfated glycosaminoglycan digestion on the transverse permeability of medial collateral ligament

Dermatan and chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) comprise over 90% of the GAG content in ligament. Studies of their mechanical contribution to soft tissues have reported conflicting results. Measuring the transient compressive response and biphasic material parameters of the tissue may elucidate the contributions of GAGs to the viscoelastic response to deformation. The hypotheses of the current study were that digestion of sulfated GAGs would decrease compressive stress and aggregate modulus while increasing the permeability of porcine medial collateral ligament (MCL). Confined compression stress relaxation experiments were carried out on porcine MCL and tissue treated with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC). Results were fit to a biphasic constitutive model to derive permeability and aggregate modulus. Bovine articular cartilage was used as a benchmark tissue to verify that the apparatus provided reliable results. GAG digestion removed up to 88% of sulfated GAGs from the ligament. Removal of sulfated GAGs increased the permeability of porcine MCL nearly 6-fold versus control tissues. Peak stress decreased significantly. Bovine articular cartilage exhibited the typical reduction of GAG content and resultant decreases in stress and modulus and increases in permeability with ChABC digestion. Given the relatively small amount of GAG in ligament (<1% of tissue dry weight) and the significant change in peak stress and permeability upon removal of GAGs, sulfated GAGs may play a significant role in maintaining the apposition of collagen fibrils in the transverse direction, thus supporting dynamic compressive loads experienced by the ligament during complex joint motion.     

Binding of calcium to glycosaminoglycans: an equilibrium dialysis study

Binding of calcium to the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) heparin, chondroitin sulfate (CS), keratan sulfate (KS), and hyaluronic acid (HA) has been studied by equilibrium dialysis using exclusion of sulfate to correct for Gibbs-Donnan effects. Calcium binding occurs to all of these GAG species, suggesting that both sulfate and carboxylate groups are involved in cation binding. For all GAGs, the binding stoichiometry is consistent with a calcium-binding "site" consisting of two anionic groups. The order of calcium binding affinities is heparin greater than CS greater than KS greater than HA, and is critically dependent upon charge density; heparin binds calcium with 10-fold higher affinity than CS. The mode of calcium binding to GAGs is consistent with a recently proposed mechanism of growth plate calcification which states that cartilage proteoglycan functions as a reservoir of calcium for calcification of epiphyseal cartilage.     

Glycosaminoglycans of Rat Cerebellum: I. Quantitative Analysis of the Main Constituents at Postnatal Day 6

Abstract: Isolated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were quantified biochemically in the cerebella of 6-day-old rats. ¹⁴C-Labeled hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin-4-sulfate (C-4-S), added prior to isolation of GAGs from tissue, served as internal standards to allow correction for unknown losses during the purification procedure and exact quantification of GAGs in the intact tissue. Three main constituents—HA, chondroitin sulfate (CS), and heparan sulfate (HS)—were found at concentrations of 1.82, 1.52, and 0.76 μg/mg protein amounting to 44%, 37%, and 19% of the total GAG fraction, respectively. Incorporation of [³H]glucosamine precursor into GAGs was higher for HS (56% of incorporated precursor) and lower for HA (29%) and CS (15%). The specific activities of individual GAGs were 64.7 nCi/μg for HS, 14.2 for HA, and 8.3 for CS.     

Studies on cartilage formation XIX. Oxygen and glucose supply of the regenerating articular surface.

Complete removal of the articular cartilage in dogs is followed by regeneration of the articular surface. At the site of the bone wound, granulation tissue develops, which later differentiates into cartilage. The O2 and glucose supply of the regenerating articular surface is ensured by the synovial fluid, by the large exposed surface of the medullary cavity, and by the capillary network of the granulation tissue. Oxygen and glucose supply of the articular surface in different stages of differentiation has been statistically analyzed. It is suggested that in the early stage of regeneration O2 supply comes predominantly from the capillaries of the granulation tissue. Later on, as capillarization regresses, the oxygen supply, originating from the synovia and medullary cavity, assumes a more important role. In the stage of cartilage regeneration an oxygen-deficient state can be supposed in the entire articular surface, but areas differing in oxygen supply may be formed owing to local differences (due mainly to the extent of vascularization and degree of generation of the subchondral bone layer). At the site of chondrogenesis, conditions allowing aerobic metabolism of cells with reduced O2 requirements seem to be ensured. Glucose supply deriving from the above-mentioned sources satisfies the highest glucose requirements of the cells in the regenerating articular surface.     

Low sulfated glycosaminoglycans are excreted in patients with the Lowe syndrome

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were prepared from the urine of three patients and from normal individuals by cetylpyridinium chloride precipitation and Pronase digestion. The GAGs were analyzed by electrophoresis, anion-exchange chromatography, and enzymatic and chemical degradation. Each of the three patients showed a four- to fivefold increase in urinary GAG excretion compared to normal controls and in one patient a tenfold increase was measured during a period of behavioral agitation which included joint swelling. Urinary GAGs from affected individuals were characterized by a high proportion of low sulfated molecules. The predominant low sulfated component was chondroitin-4-sulfate (C4S); however, small amounts of chondroitin-6-sulfate (C6S) were also present. Heparan sulfate (HS) was present in normal proportion (5-10%) and most of it was not low sulfated. Abnormal excretion of chondroitin (Ch), hyaluronic acid (HA), and dermatan sulfate (DS) was not detected. These findings suggest that the clinical manifestations of Lowe syndrome may be caused by a defect in GAG metabolism.     

Immunoelectron microscopic studies of glycosaminoglycans in the metaphyseal bone trabeculae of growing rats

Summary The types and distribution of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were studied immunocytochemically in osteoid, mineralized bone matrix, and cartilage matrix of growing rat metaphyseal bone after aldehyde fixation and EDTA demineralization, using four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs 1-B-5, 2-B-6, 3-B-3 and 5-D-4). These mAbs specifically recognize epitopes in non-sulphated chondroitin (C0-S); chondroitin 4-sulphate (C4-S) and dermatan sulphate (DS); chondroitin 6-sulphate (C6-S) and C0-S; and keratan sulphate (KS) respectively. In osteoid, all mAbs except 1-B-5 weakly stained matrix material on and between collagen fibrils, and moderately stained organic material corresponding to bone nodules, which are known sites of mineralization. However, the staining of osteoid abruptly decreased at the mineralization front; weak staining was confined mostly to the organic material of bone nodules in mineralized bone matrix, with very weak or no staining of the rest of the bone matrix. This staining progressively decreased toward the mineralized cartilage matrix and became negative. The mineralized cartilage matrix and lamina limitans reacted strongly with all mAbs except 5-D-4. These results indicate that osteoid contains sulphated proteoglycans containing C4-S and/or DS, C6-S and KS, and subsequent bone matrix mineralization appears to require accumulation of these macromolecules within bone nodules and eventual loss of these substances for complete mineralization, whereas proteoglycans containing C0-S, C4-S and/or DS, and C6-S, still exist in mineralized cartilage matrix and lamina limitants.     

Cell surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of cultured chick fibroblasts : Modifications in relation to the stage of embryo development

We have investigated the changes in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) composition between cultured fibroblasts derived from 8- and 16-day chick embryos. GAG composition has been studied after [3H]glucosamine and [35S]sulfate labeling. Both the 8- and 16-day embryo fibroblasts were found to contain hyaluronic acid (HA), dermatan sulfate (DS), heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfates (CS), the latter being the major component in 8- and 16-day cells. These four GAGs were quantified after their separation using cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The amounts of HA and CS were respectively shown to increase 2-fold and 4-fold between the 8th and 16th day of development, whereas the amounts of HS and DS resp. diminished 2.5-fold and 1.2-fold. These results show that the relative proportions of the different GAGs alter during embryo development. The fibroblasts from 8-day-old embryos detached more rapidly from the culture dishes than the cells from 16-day-old embryos when treated with trypsin. However, this difference was not directly related to the different GAG content.     

Variation of glycosaminoglycan in the growth of transplantable tumors derived from a spontaneous ddY mouse mammary tumor

The components and variations of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in the growth of transplantable tumors derived from a spontaneous mouse mammary tumor were investigated. A 45-week-old ddY female mouse, obtained from Shizuoka Laboratory Animal Center, was found to have a bean-sized mass at the third mammary gland of the left side. The tumor mass was surgically excised and used for transplantation in the present study. This mammary tumor was histologically found to be Type B-adenocarcinoma. Transplantable mammary tumors consisted of the fibrous or edematous interstitium contained a large amount of GAG components, which was mainly hyaluronic acid (HA), dermatan sulfate (DS) and chondroitin sulfate A/C (ChS). In the analysis of GAG components, HA content was present in a large amount in logarithmic growth phase of transplanted mammary tumors, but it was markedly decreased in stationary phase. On the other hand, the contents of DS and ChS increased in stationary phase of the tumor growth, and these increases corresponded, histologically, with the propagation of the fibrous interstitial tissues.     

Isolation and characterization of matrix proteoglycans from human nasal cartilage. Compositional and structural comparison between normal and scoliotic tissues

The content, types and the fine structures of proteoglycans (PGs) present in human normal nasal cartilage (HNNC) were investigated and compared with those in human scoliotic nasal cartilage (HSNC). Three PG types were identified in both HNNC and HSNC; the large-sized high buoyant density aggrecan, which is the predominant PG population, and the small-sized low buoyant density biglycan and decorin. HSNC contained a significantly higher amount of keratan sulfate (KS)-rich aggrecan (30%) of smaller hydrodynamic size as compared to HNNC. The average molecular sizes (M(r)s) of aggecan-derived chondroitin sulfate (CS) chains in both HNNC and HSNC were identical (18 kDa), but they significantly differ in disaccharide composition, since CS isolated from HSNC contained higher proportions of 6-sulfated disaccharides as compared to those from HNNC. Scoliotic tissue contained also higher amounts (67%) of the small PGs, biglycan and decorin as compared to HNNC. It is worth noticing that both normal and scoliotic human nasal cartilage contain also non-glycanated forms of decorin and biglycan. Dermatan sulfate (DS) was the predominant glycosaminoglycan (GAG) present on biglycan and decorin in both tissues. The small PGs-derived CS chains in both normal and scoliotic cartilage had the same M(r) (20 kDa), whereas DS chains from scoliotic cartilage were of greater M(r) (32 kDa) than those from normal cartilage (24 kDa). Furthermore, scoliotic tissue-derived DS chains contained higher amounts of iduronate (20%) as compared to those of normal cartilage (12%). Disaccharide analysis of small PGs showed that both HNNC and HSNC were rich in 4-sulfated disaccharides and in each case, the small size PGs contained a considerably higher proportion of 4-sulfated disaccharides than the aggrecan of the same tissue. The higher amounts of matrix PGs identified in scoliotic tissue as well as the differences in fine chemical composition of their GAG chains may reflect the modified architecture and functional failure of scoliotic tissue.     

Wild blueberry (V. angustifolium)-enriched diets alter aortic glycosaminoglycan profile in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are essential polysaccharide components of extracellular matrix and cell surface with key roles on numerous vascular wall functions. Previous studies have documented a role of wild blueberries on the GAG profile of the Sprague-Dawley rat with a functional endothelium as well as in the vascular tone of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) with endothelial dysfunction. In the present study, the effect of wild blueberries on the composition and structure of aortic GAGs was examined in 20-week-old SHRs after 8 weeks on a control (C) or a wild blueberry-enriched diet (WB). Aortic tissue GAGs were isolated following pronase digestion and anion-exchange chromatography. Treatment of the isolated populations with specific GAG-degrading lyases and subsequent electrophoretic profiling revealed the presence of three GAG species, i.e., hyaluronic acid (HA), heparan sulfate (HS) and galactosaminoglycans (GalAGs). A notable reduction of the total sulfated GAGs and a redistribution of the aortic GAG pattern were recorded in the WB as compared to the C group: a 25% and 10% increase in HA and HS, respectively, and an 11% decrease in GalAGs. Fine biochemical analysis of GalAGs at the level of constituent disaccharides with high-performance capillary electrophoresis revealed a notable increase of nonsulfated (18.0% vs. 10.7%) and a decrease of disulfated disaccharides (2.2% vs. 5.3%) in the WB aorta. This is the first study to report the redistribution of GAGs at the level of composition and their fine structural characteristics with implications for the endothelial dysfunction of the SHR.     

Effect of sulfated GAGs on the expression and activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in corneal and dermal explant cultures

It has been shown previously that hyaluronan (HA) added to fibroblast and keratocyte cell cultures or corneal explant cultures produces an up-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and activation. Here, we examine the effect of sulfated GAG-s, chondroitin 4 and 6 sulfate (CS4, CS6), dermatan sulfate (DS), keratan sulfate (KS) and heparan sulfate (HS) on MMP-2 and 9 expression and activation under the same culture conditions. It appears that CS4 has only minor effects, KS inhibits MMP-2 activation and CS6, DS and HS increase MMP-2 activation in corneal explant cultures. For skin explant cultures, DS, KS and HS strongly increase MMP-9 activation, whereas KS inhibits and DS increases MMP-2 activation. All these effects can be strongly inhibited by the addition of an antibody to CD44, except CS6 and DS. Activation by these two GAGs was only slightly affected, supporting the contention that the effects of HA, CS4, KS and HS are mediated by one of the isoforms of this CD44 receptor. The physio-pathological significance of these results is discussed for cornea and skin ageing, because of the divergent evolution with in vitro ageing of the relative proportions of GAGs synthesised by these two cell types.     

Culturing chick muscle cells on glycosaminoglycan substrates: attachment and differentiation

The effects of different glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on myogenesis were tested by culturing embryonic chick myoblasts on tissue culture dishes to which either hyaluronic acid (HA) or chondroitin sulfate (ChS) was covalently bound. Both in cell number and in apparent cell type distribution, the population of cells bound to GAGs is similar to that on gelatin and significantly different from that observed with uncoated dishes. When plated on ChS, myoblasts proliferate, align, and fuse at a rate similar to cells plated on gelatin. The final fused cells appear as sheets rather than long, thin myotubes. On HA, the cells proliferate but are inhibited from differentiation. The extent of inhibition is dependent on the amount of HA present. The inhibition of myogenesis is maintained through four subcultures on HA, but can be reversed at any time by culturing cells on gelatin. These experiments indicate that different GAGs have different effects on myogenesis and that HA can actively inhibit the process.