The Effect of Enzymatic Depolymerization of Arterial Mucopolysaccharides on Sodium Ion Content and Vessel Reactivity
1. The presence of mucopolysaccharides within arterial walls may be associated with the high concentration of sodium ions within this tissue. These polyanions are sensitive to enzymatic depolymerization which results in a loss of the cation binding properties of the molecule. 2. In this study testicular hyaluronidase perfused through isolated arterial segments resulted in a decrease in reactivity of the artery to 65% that of control arteries. Associated with this finding was a 33% decrease in the sodium ion content of the stimulated hyaluronidase-treated artery. When a variety of other sympathetically innervated tissues were treated with hyaluronidase there was no decrease in reactivity or sodium ion content.