Acid mucopolysaccharides of chick-embryo cartilage in osteolathyrism

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Abstract
In view of the suggested association between collagen and acid mucopolysaccharides in the connective tissues, this study was designed to see whether the lathyrus factor, [beta]-aminopropionitrile, affected the acid mucopolysaccharides as well as inhibiting the normal polymerization of collagen. The changing pattern of these 2 components of cartilage from normal and lathyritic chick embryos aged 14-20 days is described. The chondroitin sulphates and their protein complexes have been isolated from these cartilages, characterized and compared, particularly with respect to their sulphate content; no significant differences in quality or quantity were detectable. Saline extracts of normal and lathyritic cartilages were also compared; whereas the collagen content of lathyritic extracts was increased to 10 times that in the normal, the acid muco-polysaccharide content of both extracts was always the same. It therefore appears that in the chick embryo [beta]-aminopropionitrile does not affect the acid mucopolysaccharides of the developing cartilage.