Concentrations and Composition of Glycosaminoglycans in the Female Bovine Reproductive Tract1

Our objective was to isolate glycosaminoglycans from various regions of the female bovine reproductive tract to ascertain their concentrations and composition. Oviducts, uterine horns, and cervices from 104 female bovine reproductive tracts obtained at slaughter were flushed with 5 ml phosphate buffered saline. Following proteolysis, glycosaminoglycans were isolated by alcoholic precipitation, and concentrations were quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography. Concentrations of glycosaminoglycans decreased significantly anterior to the cervix. There was an increase of chondroitin sulfates and heparin-like material in estrual cervical mucus compared with cervical mucus collected during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle.