CONTENT OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN BOVINE CORNEAL EPITHELIUM AND PRECORNEAL FLUID-FILM

Histological staining of the hen cornea and precorneal fluid-film with ruthenium red indicated a coating of glycosaminoglycans. Quantitative and chemical analytical examinations of bovine corneal epithelium with and without the fluid-film could not demonstrate the characteristic components of glycosaminoglycans. Even small amounts of glycosaminoglycans were not found after incubation of the cornea with radioactive precursors. The extracted material was proved by degradation with amyloglucosidase enzyme to be pure glycogen. Most probably ruthenium red stains glycosaminoglycans nonspecifically, but also marks the glycoproteins demonstrated in the precorneal fluid-film.