STUDIES OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE OF LIVER IN CIRRHOSIS

1. The concentrations of glucosamine, galactosamine, uronic acid, hydroxyproline were estimated in 10 normal and 14 cirrhotic human livers. These substances are constituents of the connective tissue. The acid mucopolysaccharides of the connective tissue ground substance were separated and fractionated on cetylpyridiniumchloride-cellulose and Dowex 1×2 by column chromatography. 2. With the development of a cirrhosis there rises the concentration of all connective tissue constituents. Besides this the relations of the concentrations are changed. 3. From the results is concluded that with the development of a cirrhosis: a) more acid than neutral mucopolysaccharides are synthetisized, b) among the acid mucopolysaccharides especially galactosamine-containing mucopolysaccharides are formed, c) that probably dermatane sulfate is the acid mucopolysaccharide which is mostly built in the connective tissue of a cirrhotic liver. 4. There are distinct differences in the composition of the connective tissue of a normal and cirrhotic human liver. The alterations of the ground substance may influence the nutrition of the parenchymal cells. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.