Table 1 Distribution and staining reactions of glycosaminoglycans

GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN	LOCATION	DISACCHARIDES	POSITIVE STAINING REACTION
Hyaluronic acid	Cartilage, umbilical cord, synovial fluid, vitreous humor	Glucuronic acid, glucosamine	Alcian blue pH 2.5, Hale colloidal iron
Chondroitin-4-sulphate	Aorta, bone, cartilage, cornea, notochord, skin	Glucuronic acid galactosamine	Alcian blue pH 1.0, aldehyde fuchsin, high iron diamine, Hale colloidal iron
Chondroitin-6-sulphate	Aorta, cartilage, skin, tendon	Glucuronic acid galactosamine	Alcian blue pH 1.0, aldehyde fuchsin, high iron diamine, Hale colloidal iron
Dermatan sulphate	Aortal, skin, tendon	Glucuronic acid or iduronic acid and galactosamine	Alcian blue pH 1.0, aldehyde fuchsin, high iron diamine, Hale colloidal iron
Heparan sulphate	Aorta, basal lamina, liver, lung	Glucuronic acid or iduronic acid and galactosamine	Alcian blue pH 1.0, aldehyde fuchsin, high iron diamine, Hale colloidal iron
Keratan sulphate (corneal)	Cornea	Galactose, galactosamine	Alcian blue pH 1.0, aldehyde fuchsin, high iron diamine, Hale colloidal iron
Keratan sulphate (skeleton)	Cartilage, invertebral disk, nucleus pulposus	Galactose, glucosamine	Alcian blue pH 1.0, aldehyde fuchsin, high iron diamine, Hale colloidal iron

Table 2 Common types of collagen and their distribution

TYPE	FIBRILLIARY CHARACTERISTICS	COMPOSITION	DISTRIBUTION
I	Thick and striated	Low in hydroxylysine and glycosylated hydroxylysine	Bone, dentin, dermis, fascia, ligaments ,skin and tendons
II	Very thin, fine striations	High in hydroxylysine and glycosylated hydroxylysine	Hyaline and elastic cartilage
III	Loosely packed, thin fibrils, striated	High in hydroxyproline and low in hydroxylysine	Reticulin and in small quantities with other fibres (Arteries, kidney, liver, lung, smooth muscle, spleen)
IV	Fibres and fibrils are not seen	High in hydroxylysine and glycosylated hydroxylysine	Basement membranes
V	Unknown	High in hydroxylysine and glycosylated hydroxylysine	Blood vessels and fetal membranes and in small quantities with other fibres