Polydispersity of glycosaminoglycan components in human palatal tonsils

The aim of this study was to characterize glycosaminoglycan components in human palatal tonsils and to determine whether the proportions of individual glycosaminoglycans change with bacterial infection of the palatal tonsils and after recovery. The changes in glycosaminoglycans' content in the course of tonsillitis were mainly related to heparin and chondroitin-4-sulphate (increase) and hyaluronic acid (decrease). After recovery the polydispersity of glycosaminoglycans was found to be comparable to that in normal palatal tonsils.