Sulfated glycosaminoglycan content of glomerular and tubular basement membranes of individuals of different ages.

The glycosaminoglycan content of glomerular and tubular basement membranes in individuals ranging from preterm neonates to 90-years-old people was determined with a spectrophotometric assay after papain digestion. A decrease of glycosaminoglycans until the age of 2.5 years was observed only in glomerular basement membrane. Tubular basement membranes did not show significant changes with age. Glomerular basement membranes of neonates had a higher glycosaminoglycan content than tubular basement membranes.