1 1 . M U C O P O L Y S A C C H A R I D E S IN TISSUE C U L T U R E
385
has been followed by histological methods only; quantitative chemical
studies are lacking. With the increasing interest in the application
of Tissue Culture as a biochemical tool, i.e. the use of the culture as
a means to an end, rather than as an end in itself, studies on this type
can be expected. For example, experiments by Fell (1962) and Weissmann and Fell (1962) on the effects of cortisone on embryonic skin
in culture invite further biochemical investigation. In vivo, cortisone
has been shown to block the increased synthesis of sulphated mucopolysaccharide that occurs at the edges of healing wounds in the chick
(Layton, Frankel, Sher, Scapa and Friedler, 1958).
Studies in vitro (Schiller and Dorfman, 1956) on the effect of hydrocortisone on the uptake of (l1 4
C)-acetate and
3 5
S 0 4
2 ~ into the
mucopolysaccharides of rat skin, have revealed a gradual decrease in
the rates of turnover of these substances from the fourth day after
initiation of the hormone treatment. These results confirm and extend
earlier studies on the influence ofthe hormone on the uptake of
3 5
S 0 4
2 _
into chondroitin sulphate in vivo (see Dorfman and Schiller, 1958, for
summary). Unlike chondroitin sulphate, the concentration of heparin
in peritoneal mast cells from the rat is unaffected by treatment of the
animals with either cortisone or corticotrophin (Parekh and Glick,
1962).
Detailed studies on the action of hydrocortisone on suitable tissues
in culture seem particularly desirable, since in contrast to the results
obtained in vivo, this hormone has been reported to enhance the
incorporation of
3 5
S 0 4
2 _ into cartilage (Clark and Umbreit, 1954)
and guinea-pig granulation tissue (Kodicek and Loewi, 1955). Schiller
and Dorfman (1955, 1957) have demonstrated that the synthesis
of connective tissue mucopolysaccharides is inhibited in the insulindeficient animal. Dorfman and Schiller (1958) have emphasized that
these results are not unexpected in view of the known derivation
of the hexosamine and uronic acid moieties from glucose, the utilization of which is influenced by the hormone.
Although biological aspects of the action of oestrogens and other sex
hormones have been studied frequently in organ culture, serious
attempts to integrate these with biochemical changes do not appear
to have been made.
I V . C O N C L U D I N G R E M A R K S
It is only too apparent that although much has been learnt of the
chemical nature of mucopolysaccharides, very little is known of their
interaction with ions or other polymeric molecules and even less of
their biological function.
o
385
has been followed by histological methods only; quantitative chemical
studies are lacking. With the increasing interest in the application
of Tissue Culture as a biochemical tool, i.e. the use of the culture as
a means to an end, rather than as an end in itself, studies on this type
can be expected. For example, experiments by Fell (1962) and Weissmann and Fell (1962) on the effects of cortisone on embryonic skin
in culture invite further biochemical investigation. In vivo, cortisone
has been shown to block the increased synthesis of sulphated mucopolysaccharide that occurs at the edges of healing wounds in the chick
(Layton, Frankel, Sher, Scapa and Friedler, 1958).
Studies in vitro (Schiller and Dorfman, 1956) on the effect of hydrocortisone on the uptake of (l1 4
C)-acetate and
3 5
S 0 4
2 ~ into the
mucopolysaccharides of rat skin, have revealed a gradual decrease in
the rates of turnover of these substances from the fourth day after
initiation of the hormone treatment. These results confirm and extend
earlier studies on the influence ofthe hormone on the uptake of
3 5
S 0 4
2 _
into chondroitin sulphate in vivo (see Dorfman and Schiller, 1958, for
summary). Unlike chondroitin sulphate, the concentration of heparin
in peritoneal mast cells from the rat is unaffected by treatment of the
animals with either cortisone or corticotrophin (Parekh and Glick,
1962).
Detailed studies on the action of hydrocortisone on suitable tissues
in culture seem particularly desirable, since in contrast to the results
obtained in vivo, this hormone has been reported to enhance the
incorporation of
3 5
S 0 4
2 _ into cartilage (Clark and Umbreit, 1954)
and guinea-pig granulation tissue (Kodicek and Loewi, 1955). Schiller
and Dorfman (1955, 1957) have demonstrated that the synthesis
of connective tissue mucopolysaccharides is inhibited in the insulindeficient animal. Dorfman and Schiller (1958) have emphasized that
these results are not unexpected in view of the known derivation
of the hexosamine and uronic acid moieties from glucose, the utilization of which is influenced by the hormone.
Although biological aspects of the action of oestrogens and other sex
hormones have been studied frequently in organ culture, serious
attempts to integrate these with biochemical changes do not appear
to have been made.
I V . C O N C L U D I N G R E M A R K S
It is only too apparent that although much has been learnt of the
chemical nature of mucopolysaccharides, very little is known of their
interaction with ions or other polymeric molecules and even less of
their biological function.
o