Acidic glycosaminoglycan, lipid and water contents in human coronary arterial branches.

The acidic glycosaminoglycans (AGAG) of the human coronary arterial tree (the main left and right branches and their distal portions) were analyzed by enzymatic methods employing chondroitinases, hyaluronidase and heparitinase. The AGAG content of human coronary arteries was highest in the left branch, intermediate in the right branch and lowest in the distal portions. Some compositional differences in AGAG were found in these three parts. The amount of AGAG in the coronary arterial tree decreased with increasing severity of atherosclerosis. The main AGAG were heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin 6-sulfate (C-6S), constituting 33-38% and 24-36% of the total AGAG, respectively. Dermatan sulfate (DS) and chondroitin 4-sulfate (C-4S) each comprised 1/5-1/10 of the total AGAG. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and oversulfated DS comprised smaller proportions of the total AGAG. A small amount of heparin was occasionally detected in the coronary arterial tree, particularly in the distal portions. The lipid content of the main branches was increased in mildly atherosclerotic parts but diminished in severely affected parts. The water content was relatively higher in the main branches and decreased with severity of atherosclerosis. A possible function of these AGAG in atherosclerosis is discussed with respect to the compositional changes.