Biomaterial Database

Age changes in Alcian blue staining of glycosaminoglycans in sheep articular cartilage. 1977

W F Butler

Alcian blue staining of glycosaminoglycans in sheep articular cartilage is described and discussed. Chodrocytes contain mainly low molecular weight chondroitin sulphate in the outer layers but keratan sulphate increases with depth. Protein-polysaccharide interaction increases with age but the cellular staining decreases in intensity with age. Lacunar capsules contain material of higher molecular weight, much of which is chondroitin sulphate, but no protein-polysaccharide interaction occurs. The matrix of the outer layers is deeply stained while that of the inner layer is pale and consists mainly of keratan sulphate. When stained in high salt concentrations (greater than 0-7 M) the matrix of the middle layer shows two zones; hyaluronidase treatment allows these zones to be differentiated at lower salt concentrations.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002358	Cartilage, Articular	A protective layer of firm, flexible cartilage over the articulating ends of bones. It provides a smooth surface for joint movement, protecting the ends of long bones from wear at points of contact.	Articular Cartilage,Articular Cartilages,Cartilages, Articular
D005260	Female		Females
D005333	Fetus	The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D006025	Glycosaminoglycans	Heteropolysaccharides which contain an N-acetylated hexosamine in a characteristic repeating disaccharide unit. The repeating structure of each disaccharide involves alternate 1,4- and 1,3-linkages consisting of either N-acetylglucosamine (see ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE) or N-acetylgalactosamine (see ACETYLGALACTOSAMINE).	Glycosaminoglycan,Mucopolysaccharides
D000375	Aging	The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time.	Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000423	Alcian Blue	A copper-containing dye used as a gelling agent for lubricants, for staining of bacteria and for the dyeing of histiocytes and fibroblasts in vivo.	Alcian Blue 8GS,Alcian Blue 8GX,8GS, Alcian Blue,8GX, Alcian Blue,Blue 8GS, Alcian,Blue 8GX, Alcian,Blue, Alcian
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012756	Sheep	Any of the ruminant mammals with curved horns in the genus Ovis, family Bovidae. They possess lachrymal grooves and interdigital glands, which are absent in GOATS.	Ovis,Sheep, Dall,Dall Sheep,Ovis dalli