Fluid and glycosaminoglycan excretion by chick embryos treated with a beta-D-xyloside.

Wet weights and glycosaminoglycan content were determined for embryo, amnion, and allantois of control chick embryos and embryos injected with 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-xyloside at nine days of age. There was an immediate increase in total uronic acid content, but not in uronic acid concentration, in the embryo. No difference could be detected either in fluid volume, nor in content or type of glycosaminoglycan, in the amnion of the two groups.

Development of the biochemical and morphological changes induced by administration of a beta-xyloside to chick embryos.

4-Methylumbelliferyl beta-D-xyloside was administered to 9-day-old chick embryos, and the morphological and chemical changes in the embryo were followed daily. Increases in wet weight, Na and Cl content, and visible edema were detectable at 10 days and fully apparent at 11 days. Dry weight increased to the same extent in control and treated embryos for four days, but then diverged.

Changes in chemical composition of chick embryos treated with a beta-xyloside and a lathyrogen.

Nine-day chick embryos were treated with 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-xyloside or beta-aminopropionitrile fumarate, and their gross chemical composition was examined one week later. Total DNA was 10--20% less in embryos treated with either drug than it was in control embryos. Xyloside-treated embryos showed marked increases in percent wet weight and in sodium/DNA and chloride/DNA ratios, and small decreases in protein/DNA, hydroxyproline/DNA and sulfate/DNA.

The mode of action of 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-xyloside on the synthesis of chondroitin sulphate in embryonic-chicken sternum.

1. Embryonic-chicken sterna, incubated in medium containing 0.1mm-4-methylumbelliferyl beta-d-xyloside (4-methylcoumarin 7-beta-d-xyloside), synthesize proteochondroitin sulphate that is significantly undersulphated and shorter than usual [Gibson, Segen & Audhya (1977) Biochem.