Trabecular meshwork glycosaminoglycans in human and cynomolgus monkey eye.

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) extractable from the trabecular meshworks (TM) of human and non-human primate eye have been analyzed by sequential enzymatic degradation and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. For comparison, similar extracts of the cornea, sclera, iris, and ciliary body have also been analyzed. The distribution of glycosaminoglycans in human and in cynomolgus monkey TMs are similar, although not identical. The human TM contains hyaluronic acid (HA), chondroitin-4-sulfate and/or 6-sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), keratan sulfate (KS), heparan sulfate (HS), and an unidentified band of Alcian Blue staining material, which is resistant to the enzymes that we used. Based upon quantitation of the Alcian Blue staining intensities of extracted GAGs, which have been corrected by a relative dye-binding factor, the GAGs of the human TM include: 29.0% HA, 14.1% CS, 21.5% DS, 20.3% KS, and 15.0% HS. The cynomolgus monkey trabecular GAGs include: 12.8% HA, 14.3% CS, 15.2% DS, 42.1% KS, and 15.6% HS.