title: Modulation of sialic acid levels among some organs during insulin resistance or hyperglycemic states.
abstract: Previous studies have suggested a possible connection between insulin resistance and chronic hyperglycemia with membrane sialic acid content. In this study, the effects of high (20% ad libitum) fructose and glucose feeding on the sialic acid levels of some organs were investigated in rats. The blood glucose levels of the high fructose- and glucose-fed rats were consistently and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the normal control throughout the experiment. Free serum sialic acid and total hepatic sialic acid levels were elevated in the high fructose- and glucose-fed rats compared to normal control, but only the data for the high glucose-fed group were significantly (P < 0.05) different from the normal control. Conversely, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the pancreatic sialic acid level was observed in high glucose-fed group compared to normal control. Also, the high fructose-fed rats had lower, but insignificant (P > 0.05), pancreatic sialic acid level than the normal control. On the other hand, high fructose and glucose feeding did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect the sialic acid levels of the skeletal muscle and heart, though a tendency to increase the sialic acid level was evident in the heart. In the kidney, the sialic acid level was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in both high fructose- and glucose-fed groups. It was concluded that the liver and kidney tend to stimulate sialic acid synthesis, while the pancreas downregulate sialic acids synthesis and/or promote sialic acid release from glycoconjugates. Also, these organs may contribute to high-serum sialic acid level observed during diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. mauwalibrahim@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammed Auwal
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Aisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdulkadir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Onojah
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Lawal
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Auwal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adamu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Hadiza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdullahi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid
keywords: Diabetes; Glycoconjugates; Insulin resistance; Sialic acid