Acidic glycosaminoglycans were isolated from the bovine gingiva and analyzed by chemical methods and by two dimensional electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strip. The average total amount of acidic glycosaminoglycans-expressed as glucuronic acid-was 0.36% of dry gingival tissue. By using colorimetric analysis with two dimenional electrophoresis, the distribution of dermatan sulfate was calculated to be 33% of whole acidic glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin sulfate A to be 26% ad hyaluronic acid to be 38%, respectively.