Degradation of [3H]chondroitin 4-sulphate and re-utilization of the [3H]hexosamine component by the isolated perfused rat liver.

Radiolabelled chondroitin 4-sulphate was isolated after incubation of rat rib cartilage with N-acetyl-D-[6-3H]galactosamine. After proteolytic digestion of the tissue with either papain or trypsin the released [3H]chondroitin 4-sulphate was added to an isolated perfused rat liver system. Analysis of perfusate after several hours perfusion showed that radiolabelled amino sugars were secreted by the liver in a low-molecular-weight form and as components of glycoproteins.