The effect of maturation and anterior cruciate ligament transection on the level of keratan sulfate in the serum of dogs.

The reactivity of 2 monoclonal antibodies, D1B2 and 7D1, to keratan sulfate is described. The reaction of both monoclonal antibodies to intact A1D1 proteoglycans was inhibited by isolated keratan sulfate chains. However, 7D1 was less reactive with the keratan sulfate chains bound to ELISA plates than it was to intact proteoglycan. The amount of keratan sulfate was determined in sera of 27 dogs (8 nonoperated, 6 sham operated and 13 ligament transected) between the ages of 305 and 691 days using these monoclonal antibodies in an inhibition ELISA. The level of keratan sulfate as measured by D1B2 but not that by 7D1 decreased significantly with age. The concentration of keratan sulfate was relatively constant between the ages of 450 and 691 days. When controlled for age, no apparent difference could be shown in the level of keratan sulfate in the serum of the dogs as a result of the procedure (ligament transection or sham operation) or time after operation.