The synthesis of total and specific glycosaminoglycans during development of experimental liver cirrhosis

Summary During hepatic fibrogenesis induced by long-term administration of thioacetamide, the synthsis of chondroitin 4,6-sulfate and hyaluronic acid was strongly enhanced; the formation of heparan sulfate comprising at least 70% of total liver GAG synthesis and of a keratan-sulfate-like fraction was stimulated 1.7fold. Formation of dermatan-sulfate in liver could not be detected.We are grateful to Prof. W. Kühnel, Department of Anatomy, and to Prof. R. Lindenfelser, Department of Pathology, RWTH Aachen, for critical examination of the histology.