title: Neuraminidase activities in oligodendroglial cells of the rat brain.
abstract: Neuraminidase activities in oligodendroglial cells were characterized using rats of different ages. Rat oligodendroglial cells had intrinsic neuraminidase activities directed toward GM3 and N-acetylneuramin(2-3)lactitol (NL). Developmental profiles of the neuraminidase activities toward the two substrates in oligodendroglial cells were different from each other. The neuraminidase activity toward GM3 increased rapidly with the onset of active myelination and, after 26 days of development, reached the adult level which was about 18 times higher than that in myelin. At the adult age, oligodendroglial cells had the highest neuraminidase activity toward GM3 among the individual brain cell types examined. The activity of NL-neuraminidase showed a less remarkable developmental profile, with a peak value at 26 days. The UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase activity in oligodendroglial cells increased during the period of active myelination and, afterward, returned to the basal level. The enrichment and unique developmental profile in oligodendroglial cells of the neuraminidase activity toward GM3 suggest that this enzyme may play an important role in the formation and maintenance of the myelin sheath.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sato-Bigbee
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D005260:Female; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside / Q000378:metabolism; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000201:enzymology; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside; D012794:Sialic Acids; C029412:neuramin lactitol; D005700:Galactosyltransferases; D009439:Neuraminidase