Vitreous humor, hyaluronic acid from

Hyaluronic acid (from vitreous humor, umbilical cord, synovial fluid, ovarian tumor, Group A hemolytic streptococcus and skin)... 

Later, a more detailed investigation was performed by Karl Meyer, who summarized the results as follows [9] "From the vitreous humor of cattle eyes a polysaccharide acid of high molecular mass has been obtained... As constituents there have been recognized a uronic acid, an amino sugar... It appears to be a substance unique in higher animals, and may be best compared with some of the specific polysaccharides of bacteria... We propose, for convenience, the name "hyaluronic acid", from hyaloid (vitreous) + uronic acid". 

Meyer K, Palmer JW, Smyth EM. Glycoproteins. II. The polysaccharides of vitreous humor and of umbilical cord. J Biol Chem 1936 114 689-703. Weissman B, Meyer K. The structure of hyalobiuronic acid and of hyaluronic acid from umbilical cord. J Am Chem Soc 1954 76 1753-1757. 

HA was first isolated from bovine vitreous humor in acid form by Karl Meyer and John Pahner of Columbia University in 1934. They named the new pwlysaccharide hyaluronic acid, meaning uronic acid from hyaloid (vitreous). The term hyaluronan was introduced by Endre Balazs in 1986 to encompass the different forms the molecule can take—for example, the add form, hyaluronic acid, and the salts, such as sodium hyaluronate, which form at physiological pH [17]. Endre Balazs pioneered the medical use of HA. He derived the main concepts for many applications and... 

L-arabinose, have also been reported to be in direct linkage with a protein. L-Arabinose may also be linked to L-serine and L-threonine in a hyaluronic acid-polypeptide complex from ox vitreous-humor.750 D-Mannose is reported to be glycosidically linked in a glucoamylase [(l->4)-a-D-glucan glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.3] from Aspergillus... 

Hyalm onate is produced both by animals and bacteria. It was first obtained by Meyer and Palmer from the vitreous humor of cattle eyes. Since then, it has been isolated from many sources, such as Wharton s jellyconnective tissue, skin, cock s comb, synovial fluid, Rous sarcoma, myxoedemal fluids, and encapsulated strains of hemolytic streptococci. Aerobacter aerogenes may also produce hyaluronate. Group A streptococci have been principally used for the investigation of the biosynthesis of hyaluronic acid. 

Mengher LS, Pandher KS, Bron AJ, Davey CC. Effect of sodium hyaluronate (0.1%) on break-up time (NIBUT) in patients with dry eyes. Br J Ophthalmol 1986 70 442-447 Meyer DR, McCulley JP. Different prospects of risk management from in vitro toxicology and its relevance to the evolution of viscoelastic formulations. Rosen ES (ed) Viscoealstic Materials Basic Science and Clinical Applications. New York, Pergamon Press, 1989, S. 45-90 Meyer K, Palmer JW. The polysaccharide of the vitreous humor. J Biol Chem 1934 107 629-634 Meyer K. Chemical structure of hyaluronic acid. Fed Proc 1958 17 1075-1077... 

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a very lubricious high-molecular-weight water-soluble polymer found in connective tissue and the sinovial fluid that cushions the joints. HA is also found in the vitreous and aqueous humors of the eye. Solutions are injected in the eye during intraocular lens surgery to protect the cornea and the iris from damage during surgery. Table 11.1 shows data on HA concentration,... 

Hyaluronic acid was first isolated by Karl Meyer from vitreous humor (30) and later from umbilical cord, synovial fluid, skin, cock s comb, certain fowl tumors, groups A and C hemolytic streptococci, and other sources 31). Historically, it has been a major and frequent if not universal component of Levene s so-called mucoitin sulfates. The polysaccharide acts in animal tissue presumably as an integral part of the gel-like ground substance of connective tissue (and other tissues). Another important function of hyaluronic acid in animals is serving as a lubricant and shock ab-sorbant in the joints. 

Isolation from Vitreous Humor. Frozen cattle eyes are bisected and the vitreous humor is lifted out with precautions to exclude the iris. The thawed material is then squeezed through gauze or filtered. Three methods have been employed for the isolation of hyaluronic acid. ( ) The filtered humor is precipitated with 10 volumes of acetone and purified by repeated shakings with chloroform and by alcohol precipitation (129,130,174). (2) Hyaluronate is precipitated as a mucin and subjected to tryptic digestion. The final product is very low in nitrogen (99). (S) Hyaluronate is isolated by a modification of the method of Hadidian and Pirie (58). This procedure of Alburn and Williams (2) gives a uniform product in excellent yield. 

Hyaluronic acid was first isolated from the vitreous humor of the eyes of... 

The molecule is probably not branched, or only slightly so. The molecular weight is very great (several million). Hyaluronic acid is a principal component of the ground substance of connective tissue. It is found, among other places, in the synovial fluid, in the vitreous humor of the eye, and in skin, usually in combination with protein. Frequently it is prepared from umbilical cord. 

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