A study of bovine proteoglycan-II as a growth promotant

Abstract

Proteoglycan-II is a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan which binds peptide growth factors, and through this mechanism it has been shown to alter the growth of mammalian cells in culture. The possibility was tested that injections of proteoglycan-II could alter the growth of live animals. Proteoglycan-II from bovine occipital condyle articular cartilage was prepared, authenticated and injected into male Wistar rats. The injection of 125I-proteoglycan-II showed that it was absorbed and metabolized by the rats. Growth studies showed that treatment with proteoglycan-II at two levels of purity and at two dose rates produced no change (P > 0.05) in live weight gain, body composition or food conversion efficiency.