Sulfated glycosaminoglycans in rat bronchopulmonary lavage: detection after in vivo labelling

Sulfated macromolecules occurring in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid supernatant were radiolabelled in vivo by 35SO4, that was insufflated via trachea. DEAE-Sephacel chromatography dissociated sulfated glycoproteins, presumably of tracheobronchial mucus origin, from a minor, but heavily labelled component. Degradative analysis and acetyl cellulose electrophoresis identified this component as a mixture of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans.