Inhibition of oxidative degradation of hyaluronic acid by uric acid.

It has been postulated that glycosaminoglycans in the trabeculum have an influence on aqueous humor drainage. Ascorbate reduces the viscosity of hyaluronic acid, and also increases outflow facility. Our recent observation of high urate concentrations in some glaucomatous eyes led us to study the influence of urate on oxidative degradation of hyaluronic acid by ascorbate. The viscosity of rooster comb hyaluronic acid was reduced slowly by ascorbate. Cupric sulfate accelerated ascorbate oxidation and also enhanced hyaluronic acid degradation. Urate inhibited ascorbate oxidation and prevented the copper catalyzed oxidative degradation of rooster comb hyaluronic acid. The range of urate concentrations used in this study was within the range of urate concentrations observed in glaucomatous eyes. The partially purified umbilical cord hyaluronic acid had lower viscosity than rooster comb hyaluronic acid, and rapidly degraded in the presence of ascorbate. The ascorbate effect on umbilical cord hyaluronic acid was partially prevented by urate.