Coltoff-Schiller B, Goldfischer S
Am J Pathol. 1981 Dec;105(3):232-40.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of sclerotic vascular disease. The localization of GAGs in the rat aorta was examined by two different ultrastructural cytochemical approaches. These procedures are believed to demonstrate 1) anionic sites, with fixatives that contain either toluidine blue or ruthenium red, both cationic dyes, and 2) polysaccharides, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins, with an osmium--ferrocyanide mixture that binds to vicinal diols. Both procedures stain a network of insoluble, 2--8-nm filaments that bridge collagen fibers, elastin, basement membranes, and plasma membranes. These structures resist digestion with chondroitinase ABC and appear to be identical to the filaments that have previously been demonstrated with ruthenium red. Focal 6--12-nm densities are present where filaments intersect. However, the large granules that are made visible with ruthenium red are not seen in toluidine blue or osmium--ferrocyanide preparations. A soluble and relatively amorphous component surrounds the tightly packed bundles of collagen in the media and is preserved and stained by toluidine blue and osmium--ferrocyanide mixtures.
糖胺聚糖（GAGs）与硬化性血管疾病的发病机制有关。通过两种不同的超微结构细胞化学方法检测了GAGs在大鼠主动脉中的定位。据信，这些方法可显示：1）阴离子位点，使用含有甲苯胺蓝或钌红（两种阳离子染料）的固定剂；2）多糖、蛋白聚糖和糖蛋白，使用与邻二醇结合的锇 - 亚铁氰化物混合物。两种方法均能使一种不溶性的、2 - 8纳米细丝网络染色，这些细丝连接着胶原纤维、弹性蛋白、基底膜和质膜。这些结构抵抗软骨素酶ABC的消化，并且似乎与先前用钌红显示的细丝相同。细丝交叉处存在6 - 12纳米的局灶性密度。然而，在甲苯胺蓝或锇 - 亚铁氰化物制剂中未见用钌红可见的大颗粒。一种可溶性且相对无定形的成分围绕着中膜中紧密排列的胶原束，并被甲苯胺蓝和锇 - 亚铁氰化物混合物保存和染色。
