STUDIES ON CORNEAL POLYSACCHARIDES .6. ISOLATION OF DERMATAN SULFATE FROM CORNEAL SCAR TISSUE

Previous studies have indicated that during corneal wound healing a galactosaminoglycan accumulates in the wound area. The nature of this polymer was investigated in the present study. Corneal scars were experimentally induced by removal of the endothelium and Descemet's membrane. The material isolated from the scar tissue exhibited analytical data indicating that it was a dermatan sulfate with a rather high degree of hybridity. It was also observed that the polymer was more hybridized in the early phase of scar tissue formation. It was concluded that, in the process of transformation of stromal cells to dermatan sulfate-producing cells, injury to Descemet's membrane leading to impaired endothelial regeneration might play an important role. © 1969 Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd.