[Histochemical study of glycosaminoglycan in Wilms tumors of rats and rabbits and fetal kidneys of rats].

Histochemical studies were performed on glycosaminoglycan (GAG) components in Wilms tumors of rats and rabbits and fetal kidneys of rats. 1. Wilms tumors. The interstitial components had an intense stainability with Alcian blue, and digestion test with hyaluronidase and chondroitinase was intensely positive. The epithelial tumor cells, showing a tubular pattern, were also stained with Alcian blue. The enzyme-digestion test was positive in the basal portion of the tumor cells, whereas it was negative in the free surface of the cells. 2. Rat kidneys. In fetal rats, the epithelial cells as well as the interstitial components were stained with Alcian blue, and the enzyme-digestion test was intensely positive. However, in adult rats, Alcian blue-stainability in the free surface of the tubular epithelium was not abolished by treatment with hyaluronidase and chondroitinase. The substance in the free surface seemed to be consisted mainly of heparan sulfate. Although the physiological significance of GAG in the cell surface cannot be deduced, it is quite conceivable that GAG, especially heparan sulfate, plays an important role in fluid absorption and transportation.