The composition and organization of the extracellular matrix of ostrich articular cartilage was investigated, using samples from the proximal and distal surfaces of the tarsometatarsus. For morphological analysis, sections were stained with toluidine blue and analyzed by polarized light microscopy. For biochemical analysis, extracellular matrix components were extracted with 4 M guanidinium chloride, fractionated on DEAE-Sephacel and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Glycosaminoglycans were analyzed by electrophoresis in agarose gels. Structural analysis showed that the fibrils were arranged in different directions, especially on the distal surface. The protein and glycosaminoglycan contents of this region were higher than in the other regions. SDS-PAGE showed the presence of proteins with molecular masses ranging from 17 to 121 kDa and polydisperse components of 67, 80-100, and 250-300 kDa in all regions. The analysis of glycosaminoglycans in agarosepropylene diamine gels revealed the presence of only chondroitin-sulfate. The electrophoretic band corresponding to putative decorin was a small proteoglycan containing chondroitin-sufate and not dermatan-sulfate, unlike other cartilages. The higher amounts of proteins and glycosaminoglycans and the multidirectional arrangement of fibrils seen in the distal region may be correlated with the higher compression normally exerted on this region.

Com o intuito de caracterizar, em nível citoquímico, as principais reservas presentes em guandu, lablabe e mucuna, sementes foram fixadas e processadas para a microscopia, utilizando-se tanto métodos gerais como específicos para proteínas, lipídios, polissacarídeos neutros e ácidos, procedendo-se, à dosagem e à caracterização dessas reservas nas sementes. O amido revelou-se como principal material, seguido por proteínas e, em menor grau, por lipídios. O conteúdo de amido foi de 55% da matéria seca (MS) para guandu, 53% para lablabe e 40% para mucuna. As proteínas foram mais abundantes em lablabe, com 26% da MS, seguindo-se o guandu (19%) e a mucuna (17%). Lipídios representaram menos de 2% da MS dessas sementes, com uma quantidade maior em mucuna do que nas demais espécies. As análises dos açúcares neutros presentes indicaram grande conteúdo de glicose em função do amido e quantidade apreciável de galactose e arabinose, sempre em maior quantidade em mucuna. Os perfis eletroforéticos revelaram semelhança maior entre as proteínas de guandu e lablabe, sugerindo maior proximidade filogenética entre tais espécies. As proteínas mais abundantes apresentaram massa molecular relativa entre 65 e 70 kg/mol.

For the cytochemical characterization of the storage material present in guandu, lab-lab and mucuna, seeds of each species were fixed and prepared for microscopy. Routine and specific fixation methods for proteins, lipids, neutral and acidic polysaccharides were used. The main reserves of the seeds were also analyzed and characterized. The results showed that starch is the principal reserve, with proteins surrounding the starch grains, as well as a few lipid globules. The starch concentration was 55% of the dry weight (DW) for guandu, 53% for lab-lab and 40% for mucuna. The proteins were more abundant in lab-lab, with 26% DW, while guandu and mucuna had respectively 19% and 17%. Lipids represented up to 2% of the total DW of the three species with mucuna presenting the largest quantity. The analyses of neutral saccharides showed a large amount of glucose due to the starch reserve, but also appreciable quantities of galactose and arabinose, which always occurred in greater quantities in mucuna. Electrophoretic patterns for proteins of guandu and lab-lab were quite similar, suggesting a a phylogenetic proximity between these species. The principal proteins had a molecular relative mass between 65 to 70 kg/mol.

In order to evaluate the effect of chaotropic agents on proteoglycan and non-collagenous proteins, chicken xiphoid cartilage was treated with guanidine-HCI and MgCl2 in different concentrations (1M to 5M), and different periods of time (12, 24, 48 and 72hr). The maximum yield of uronic acid was obtained with 3M MgCl2 (73.3 per cent). Concentrations of 4M and 5M of MgCl2 showed that much less uronic acid was removed, 55.3 per cent and 38.1 respectively. Extraction with 3M MgCl2 and 3M guanidine-HCl resulted better efficiency when performed for 48 hr. Analysis by SDS-PAGE of the extracts obtained with guanidine-HCl and MgCl, in different concentrations pointed out that most components are equally removed with the two solvents, showing that the extraction with MgCl2 is an alternative assay to remove non-collagenous proteins from extracellular matrix.