Glycosaminoglycans in the developing corneal stroma

Abstract

The quantitative and qualitative variations of glycosaminoglycans in the developing chicken and calf cornea were determined. The total amount of these substances per dry weight of corneal stroma increases during embryonic development. In the chick embryo this increase was demonstrated mainly in the high molecular weight glucos-aminoglycan fraction and in the galactosaminoglycan fraction with a high sulphate content. The post-natal increase was observed primarily in the glycosaminoglycan fractions of lower molecular weight and lower sulphate content. In cattle, the increase in the glucosaminoglycans from the early embryonic stage to post-natal life was also noted mainly in the high molecular weight fraction. Almost all the galactosaminoglycans in the early embryonic stage of development were highly sulphated, whereas in the post-natal calf cornea most of this polysaccharide moiety had a lower sulphate content.