A comparison of acidic glycosaminoglycans in the inner ear and other organs: electrophoretic microanalysis.

Acidic glycosaminoglycans in the ground substance of the membranous cochlear lateral wall, kidney, brain and liver of the guinea pigs were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed, using electrophoretic microanalysis. The lateral wall of the cochlea showed highest content (0.46 +/- 0.08%/D.W.) of acidic glycosmainoglycans, which were chondroitin sulfate-B (75%), chondroitin sulfate-A (12%) and hyaluronic acid (13%). However, the pattern of these acidic glycosaminoglycans in the inner ear differed from the other organs. A possible role of acidic glycosaminoglycans in the inner ear was discussed.