Hexosamine and sialic acid contents in cells.

Abstract

FEW data are available on the determination of glycoproteins containing sialic acid in tumour tissues, although the presence of an acid mucopolysaccharide in some kinds of tumour tissue has been reported. We determined the hexosamine and sialic acid contents in tumour cells, the HeLa cells and C3H ascitic hepatoma cells of different types, comparing them with those of non-malignant cells. The liver cells of C3H mice, and FL cells obtained by a tissue culture were used as non-malignant cells. The liver cell is generally considered to be a good example of the basic cell type. The types of the C3H ascitic hepatoma used were MH 134, MH 129 P and MH 129 F 1, which were inoculated into (C3H/HeNdd) F 1 hybrid mice, subcutaneously or intraperitoneally. The cells from solid tissue were prepared by use of a tissue presser. The cells were dried with acetone after washing with saline solution. The results of the determination are summarized in Table 1.