FIG. 4.

Bioadhesion of visceral mesothelium after pretreatment with glycocalyx-directed enzymes. The lung (A), liver (B), bowel (C), and heart (D) tissue was treated with neuraminidase (Neur), pronase (Pro), or hyaluronidase (Hyal) at established concentrations²⁰ before adhesion on a 50% HMP and CMC substratum. The 50% HMP (Max) and 0% pectin (Min) provided control comparisons for the enzyme effects on tensile strength. Tensile strength was diminished by all three enzymes; however, a significant quantitative variation in enzyme inhibition was noted. Box plots indicate median values and 25th and 75th percentile; whiskers represent variability outside the upper and lower quartiles. Data represent replicate samples of N = 3 mice.