Extracellular matrix of connective tissues in the heads of teleosts.

The distribution of extracellular matrix molecules (chondroitin and keratan sulphates, type II collagen) is described in cranial connective tissues of teleosts. Hyaline cartilage was similar to that in mammals and usually contained all 3 molecules. The more cellular cartilages that are not normally present in mammals were more variable in composition. Scleral cartilage closely resembled hyaline cartilage, Zellknorpel in the gill filaments resembled it in some species but not in others, and elastic/cell-rich and hyaline-cell cartilages were unlike hyaline cartilage. These variations may be related to functional or developmental differences between the tissues. Bone and chondroid bone also varied in composition between species. Whilst both tissues contained chondroitin sulphate, bone contained type II collagen in 5 of the 12 species examined. This suggests that cartilage components are more widespread in teleost bone than has previously been shown. Type II collagen also occurred in dense connective tissues of some species. Notably, where this molecule was present in one of these tissues, it was present in all.