Differetial staining of glycosaminoglycans, utilizing bacterial chondroitinase and chondrosulphatase

A histochemical method for the differentiation of glucosaminoglycans, utilizing bacterial chondroitinase ABC and chondro-4- and -6 sulphatases, and staining with Alcian blue, is presented. The method is applied on human tissues with known glucosaminoglycan content (ganglion cyst, umbilical cord, foetal cartilage, adult cartilage) and the results are compared with the results obtained by staining with Alcian blue at controlled pH levels, with or without prior digestion with bovine testicular hyaloronidase, and the Scott method, utilizing Alcian blue at varying concentrations of MgCl2. It is concluded that chondroitinase ABC digest chondroitin-4 and -6 sulphate and to some extent also hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulphate, but not heparin and keratosulphate.