The content of glycosaminoglycans in bovine corneal epithelium and precorneal fluid-film.

Histologic staining of hen cornea and precorneal fluid-film with ruthenium red lead to the assumption of existent coating 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 are not found after incubation of the cornea with radioactive precursors. But the extracted material have been proved by degradation with amyloglucosidase enzyme for pure glycogen. Most probably ruthenium red stains glycosaminoglycans nonspecifically but marks the glycoproteins as well which have been demonstrated in the precorneal fluid-film.