The endothelial glycocalyx is well endowed with the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) heparan
sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronan. The current studies aimed to assess the relative
contributions of each of these GAGs to the thickness and permeability of the glycocalyx layer
by direct enzymatic removal of each using micropipettes to infuse heparinase,
chondroitinase and hyaluronidase into post-capillary venules of the intestinal mesentery of
the rat. The relative losses of GAGs due to enzymatic removal were compared with …