Glycosaminoglycans in human skin

Small skin biopsies of thirty-nine human subjects were assayed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of glycosaminoglycans. The following results were obtained:

• 1 Besides the presence of hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulphate, evidence has been presented for the presence of heparan sulphate.
• 2 The content of glycosaminoglycans was higher in biopsies from healthy individuals than the values reported for post-mortem human skin.
• 3 Variation of the concentration of either hyaluronic acid or dermatan sulphate plus heparan sulphate in relation to the region of the body could not be demonstrated.
• 4 With advancing age a decrease in dermatan sulphate plus heparan sulphate could be demonstrated. However, hyaluronic acid content could not be demonstrated to correlate with age.