The origin and fate of hyaluronan in amniotic fluid

Abstract

The mechanisms which regulate the steady-state concentration and molecular weight of hyaluronan in the amniotic fluid of sheep at different gestational ages have been investigated. An attempt to trace the origin of the polysaccharide has been made by analyses of various fetal fluids (amniotic fluid, allantoic fluid, tracheal fluid, urine, and serum). The fate has been studied by injection of radioactively labelled hyaluronan into the amniotic cavity and following the tracer in fetal tissues and fluids. The concentration of hyaluronan in amniotic fluid varies considerably but is in the order of 5 mg/l at mid-pregnancy and decreases to 1 mg/l in late pregnancy. The polysaccharide has a M(r)-di..