Table 3.

Structural characterization of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) by HPLC. The results are mean of three different analyses. The coefficient of variation (%) was always found to be lower than 15% for all analyses (Maccari et al., 2011). Number of aortas in each experiment = 3. ΔDi0s: ΔUA-(1→3)-GalNAc; ΔDi4s: ΔUA-(1→3)-GalNAc-4s; ΔDi6s: ΔUA-(1→3)-GalNAc-6s. The charge density of GAGs obtained from aortas was calculated considering the presence and the percentage of carboxyl and sulphate groups for each disaccharide. 6s/4s: ΔDi6s/ΔDi4s ratio

Treatment groups	ΔDi0s (%)	ΔDi6s (%)	ΔDi4s (%)	Charge density	6s/4s
Control	9.0 ± 0.78	24.2 ± 1.56	66.8 ± 1.98	0.90 ± 0.007	0.36 ± 0.02
High cholesterol	8.75 ± 3.89	27.45 ± 2.76*	63.8 ± 1.31#	0.91 ± 0.04	0.43 ± 0.01♦

^*Significant differences in ΔDi6s between the H-Chol group and the control group.

^#Significant differences in ΔDi4s between the H-Chol group and the control group.

^♦Significant differences in 6s/4s between the H-Chol group and the control group.