Mucopolysaccharides of rat ascites hepatoma, AH-100B.

The present study was undertaken to determine the mucopolysaccharide content of cells, AH-100B, and in the ascites, liver, and kidney of a rat bearing this hepatoma. AH-100B is similar to other mixed-type cells in having heparan sulfate as the main component in its mucopolysaccharides but its minor component was different in containing heparin. The main mucopolysaccharide in the ascites of AH-100B bearing rat was hyaluronic acid, which was similar to that of control ascites induced by injection of polypeptone, but minor component contained heparin derived from the cells. The content of hyaluronic acid in the liver of a rat bearing this hepatoma was higher than those of control liver and liver of a rat bearing other tumors. There were no significant differences between control kidney and kidney of a rat bearing this hepatoma.