Acid mucopolysaccharides in leprosy lesions

Uniform accumulation of acid mucopolysaccharides in all types of leprosy lesions was seen, except late tuberculoid lesions which showed the accumulation only at the periphery. Absence of acid mucopolysaccharides was significant in well formed epithelioid granulomas and in giant cells of late tuberculoid cases. Generally a progressive decrease with advancing chronicity of the disease was noted. The dermal zone without any cellular infiltrate showed abundant acid mucopolysaccharides in comparison to those areas having inflammatory cell infiltrate in 70.83% of LL, 42.86% of BL, 33.3% of BB, 40.0% of BT, and 13.51% of TT cases. In Indeterminate cases the distribution was same to that of control cases. Testicular hyaluronidase digestion established that hyaluronic acid constituted the main bulk of acid mucopolysaccharides. The possible source of hyaluronic acid is discussed.