THE OCCURRENCE OF ACID MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES IN HUMAN LEUKOCYTES AND URINE 1

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A non-dialyzable material (or materials) containing hexuronic acid and hexosamine was separated from human leukocytes and urine by a method permitting quantitatiave recovery of added acid mucopolysaccharides. The material from both sources yielded a low carbazole value for hexuronic acid vs hexosamine yield. Chromatographically the properties of the material resembled those of certain components of the inhomogeneous commercial chondroitin sulfate with which it was compared. Electrophoretically on paper, also, the leukocyte material resembled commercial chondroitin sulfate in its migration. The urine material differed, forming a streak instead of a spot. All the hexuronic acid in the fraction separated from leukocytes was associated with non-dialyzable material. The average yield of hexuronic acid from the fraction representing 10 leukocytes was 1,180 +- 51.6 (S.E.) ng in males, 910 +- 47.5 (S.E.) /ig in females. The difference was small, but significant (p < 0.01). Not all of the hexosamine in the fraction separated from leukocytes was associated with the non-dialyzable material, but the dialyzable hexosamine was not identified. Not all of the hexuronic acid and hexosamine in the fraction separated from urine was associated with the non-dialyzable material. The portion of each lost on dialysis cannot be regarded as being a component of an acid mucopoly-saccharide. After dialysis of the fraction, no difference in quantity of non-dialyzable material was found between males and females.