The acid glycosaminoglycans of resting, columnar, hypertrophic and calcified zones of calf epiphyseal growth plate and of nasal septum cartilage were extracted with a dissociative solvent, 3M GuCl, according to Sajdera and Hascall (1969), to separate the glycosaminoglycans into an extractable pool and an unextractable pool which remains bound within the tissue. Epiphyseal cartilage required longer extraction times than did nasal septum cartilage to extract comparable amounts of acid glycosaminoglycans suggesting a stronger binding of proteoglycans within the tissue. Towards the calcification front the glycosaminoglycans were extracted more easily while in calcified zone not more than 30% could be extracted. Data obtained by the CPC microfractionation procedure of Antonopouloset al. (1964) indicated similar distribution according to molecular weight and/or charge density for extractable and unextractable chondroitin sulphate in nasal septum cartilage and in resting and columnar zones of epiphyseal growth plate. Unextractable glycosaminoglycans in hypertrophic and calcified zones were of predominantly low molecular weight and/or charge density compared to the extractable pool. Hyaluronic acid was unextractable in nasal septum and in resting, columnar and hypertrophic zones with increasing concentrations towards the calcification front. In calcified zone a shift to mainly extractable hyaluronic acid occurred. The significance of these findings is discussed.