COMPARISON OF HISTOCHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL METHODS FOR THE POLYSACCHARIDES OF CARTILAGE

Abstract

Two histochemical methods for issue polysaccharides were compared with chemical estimations of polysaccharide components of cartilage. The histochemical tests used were the Rinehart-Abul-Haj modification of the Hale technique for acid mucopolysaccharides and the McManus modification of the periodic acid Schiff reaction for neutral polysaccharides. Chemical estimations for hexose by the anthrone method, hexosamine by the Elsan Morgan reaction and uronic acid by the Dische carbazole method were made on the same cartilage samples subjected to histochemical studies. Good general agreement was found between results of the histochemical and chemical studies. A decrease of glycogen and acid polysaccharide components with age and an increase of neutral polysaccharide other than glycogen with maturity was noted.