Incorporation of [I-14C]glucosamine into mucopolysaccharides of rat connective tissue

• 1.

  1. Incorporation of [I-¹⁴C]glucosamine into acid mucopolysaccharides was studied in connective tissue formed in stainless steel wire mesh cylinders implanted subcutaneously into adult rats. Liver, serum, and the fluids found within cylinders were also investigated.

• 2.

  2. High levels of non-dialyzable radioactivity were observed in tissue when labelled glucosamine was injected directly into the area of connective tissue proliferation within cylinders.

• 3.

  3. Incorporation of [I-¹⁴C]glucosamine into connective tissue was not adversely affected by removal of the animal's liver; only a small amount of radioactivity was found in serum proteins of these animals.

• 4.

  4. Incorporation of glucosamine by connective tissue slices was demonstrated by studies in vitro.

• 5.

  5. Mucopolysaccharides with high specific radioactivity, prepared from connective tissue labelled in vivo or in vitro, had staining characteristics and electrophoretic mobility of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. Glucosamine and galactosamine, isolated from connective tissue, were found to be radioactive. It may be concluded that glucosamine can be directly incorporated into mucopolysaccharides at the site of connective tissue formation.