Metabolism of acid mucopolysaccharides in hepatoma and in normal liver.

The metabolism of acid mucopolysaccharides in Novikoff hepatoma and in hepatoma BW7756 was studied using the precursors -35S-sulfate, -H-glucosamine and -14C-galactosamine. There is an active formation of sulfated mucopolysaccharides at the mitochondria and cell membrane level. Hepatoma cells synthesize heparin to a lower rate than liver cells. In ascitic as well as in solid tumors there is a considerable accumulation of hyaluronic acid which does not seem to be elicited by the tumor cells but by the surrounding tissues. The possible implication of the low heparin production in the cell membrane characteristics is discussed.