PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Hodson, J. J. AU - Prout, R. E. S. TI - Chemical and histochemical characterization of mucopolysaccharides in a jaw myxoma AID - 10.1136/jcp.21.5.582 DP - 1968 Sep 01 TA - Journal of Clinical Pathology PG - 582--589 VI - 21 IP - 5 4099 - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/21/5/582.short 4100 - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/21/5/582.full SO - J Clin Pathol1968 Sep 01; 21 AB - Chemical and histochemical analyses, including testicular and staphylococcal hyaluronidase digestion, have been made of a jaw myxoma and the results show the presence of two acid mucopolysaccharides. Of the total mucopolysaccharide present 80% was hyaluronic acid and 20% chondroitin sulphate. The high content of non-sulphated mucopolysaccharide would seem to explain the paucity of fibres characteristic of the myxoma. It is suggested that myxomas generally probably have a similar high hyaluronic acid content. It is considered that the cell concerned is a mesenchymal cell elaborating non-sulphated mucopolysaccharide and may be called a `myxoblast'; it is metabolically different from the sulphated-mucopolysaccharide-collagen-producing fibroblast. The high hyaluronic acid content is much greater than that found in embryonic connective tissue and may be a significant factor in the neoplastic behaviour of the myxomatous tissue. The aggressive behaviour of the myxoma is against a simple reversion to embryonic mesenchyme. It is concluded that the myxoblast is an active mucopolysaccharide-secreting cell and that mucin in the myxoma is not a sign of cell degeneration of preexisting fibroblasts or collagen.