The histochemistry of complex carbohydrates in certain organs of homozygous brachymorphic (bm/bm) mice.

Homozygous brachymorphic (bm/bm) mice are characterized by disproportionately short stature and by undersulphated proteochondroitin sulphate in cartilage with a defect in the synthesis of the sulphate donor (3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate: PAPS). In adult mice of this mutant strain, several organs have been examined by light microscopical methods of complex carbohydrate histochemistry, in comparison with those from control (C57BL/6J) mice of comparable ages. The organs included the trachea, aorta, skin, stomach, colon and cornea. In the mutant mice, connective tissue elements and components of epithelial tissues exhibited apparently weaker positive reactions for ester sulphate groupings of complex carbohydrates, as compared with those in the control mice. From these results, it is concluded that the undersulphation in complex carbohydrates is widespread throughout the connective and epithelial tissues of the mutant mice.