Possible involvement of sialidase and sialyltransferase activities in a stage-dependent recycling of sialic acid in some organs of type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats.

Background: Type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes lead to an aberrant metabolism of sialoglycoconjugates and elevated free serum sialic acid (FSSA) level. The present study evaluated sialidase and sialyltranferase activities in serum and some organs relevant to diabetes at early and late stages of T1D and T2D.

Methods: Sialic acid level with sialidase and sialyltransferase activities were monitored in the serum, liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle and kidney of diabetic animals at early and late stages of the diseases.