Glycoproteins in fluid from non-keratinizing jaw cysts

Fluid from 47 non-keratinizing jaw cysts and autologous serum were separated by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes and stained for glycoproteins. All cyst fluids contained glycoproteins, but the separation patterns differed from those of serum. The major carbohydrate-bearing fractions of cyst fluid migrated with alpha2- and gamma-globulins, while in serum alpha2 and beta-glycoproteins contained most bound carbohydrates. The appearance of the gamma-globulin patterns indicated local synthesis and accumulation of cyst fluid gamma-globulins. The other glycoproteins most likely had escaped from plasma. Electrophoretograms of cyst fluid stained for glycosaminoglycans revealed that cystic glycoproteins often were complexed with glycosaminoglycans, causing more or less distorted separation patterns.