Changes in versican and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans during structural development of the lung

We have examined whether changes in versican levels, or in the sulphation pattern of its chondroitin sulphate (CS) side chains, are associated with the reduction in peri-alveolar tissue volumes that characterise lung maturation in late gestation fetal sheep. Lung tissue was collected from fetuses (90-142 days GA) and lambs (2 weeks after term birth). The level and distribution of versican and CS glycosaminoglycans (GAG) was determined using immunohistochemistry whereas fluorophore assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE) was used to determine changes in CS sulphation patterns. Versican was the predominant CS-containing proteoglycan in the lung and decreased from 19.9+/-2.7 arbitrary units (au) at 90d GA to 6.0+/-0.5 au at 142d GA in close association (p