CAT BRAIN MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES AND THEIR IN VIVO HYALURONIDASE DIGESTION

Abstract

The average yield of mucopolysaccharides isolated from adult cat brain was 3.29 mg, representing 0.02% of the wet wt. of brain tissue. The lipid-free dried brain was approximately 10% of the wet brain tissue weight. Mucopolysaccharide fraction distributions and concentration ratios are presented. Chronic administration of testicular hyaluronidase to adult cats resulted in an advanced stage of neurological impairment, a decrease in hyaluronic acid to about 10% of the control value, and an even slightly greater decrease in chondroitin sulphate. With limited hyaluronidase injections, neurological impairment was milder; mucopolysaccharide concentrations after 4 doses of hyaluronidase decreased to approximately the same level as in chronic experimental cats.