ABSTRACT
Proteoglycans (PGs) in a tissue or an organ can be studied using either biochemical or morphological tools, both of which have molecular biology counterparts. The general scheme employed to isolate PGs biochemically from tissues is given in Table 1 (1). The morphological tools commonly used in the study of lung PGs are reviewed in this chapter and summarized in Table 2. The tissue macerate samples analyzed by biochemical techniques are relatively large; the histological sections are usually 3-5 µm thick or less, as in electron microscopy. The biochemical methods are usually more sensitive and specific and allow reliable quantification. In addition, they provide information about the size of protein or PG’s glycosaminoglycan chains, the degree of sulfonation, and other characteristics of the macromolecules. In contrast, there are many limitations in evaluating the content of PGs using morphologic instruments, as discussed below.
