Metabolic rate of acidic complex saccharides in rabbit uterus under estrogenic condition

Uterine slices obtained from estrogen-treated rabbits were incubated in vitro with N-acetyl-D-[1-3H]glucosamine together with D-[U-14C]glucose. The isotope-labelled acidic complex saccharides were then isolated by pronase digestion, Dowex 1 column chromatography and preparative electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membrane, in succession. In this way, individual acidic complex saccharides (hyaluronic acid, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate A, chondroitin sulfate C, dermatan sulfate, sulfated glycopeptide, and sialoglycopeptide) were separated into 2-5 subfractions. The specific radioactivity of hexosamine in the subfractions indicated that the metabolic rate of the uterine complex saccharides as follows: hyaluronic acid greater than sulfated glycopeptide greater than heparan sulfate greater than chondroitin sulfate C greater than dermatan sulfate. In addition, metabolic heterogeneity of heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate A, chondroitin sulfate C, and dermatan sulfate was suggested.