Turbidimetric measurement of acid mucopolysaccharides and hyaluronidase activity.

The turbidimetric methods here described are based on the formation of relatively insoluble complexes between isolated acid mucopolysaccharides and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.’ Some of the properties of these complexes have recently been described by Scott (1). We found that the amount of turbidity developed when the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide is added to a solution of acid mucopolysaccharide is proportional to the amount of acid mucopolysaccharide in the system, and that no turbidity develops when cetyltrimethylammonium bromide is added to chondroitinsulfate or hyaluronate which has been depolymerized by incubation with testicular hyaluronidase. ReagentsAcetate buffer. 0.2 M sodium acetate-acetic acid, pH 6, to which NaCl is added to give a concentration of 0.15 M. Acid mucopolysaccharide solution. 50 mg. of sodium chondroitinsulfate2 or sodium hyaluronates are dissolved in 100 ml. of the acetate buffer. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide reagent. 2.5 gm. are dissolved in 100 ml. of 2 per cent NaOH.