THE ROLE OF SIALIC-ACID AND CA-2-INFECTED FOXES BRAIN( IONS IN RABIESVIRUS)

The receptors for rabies virus on the neuron membranes are polysialoga ngliosides arranged in multicomponent gelate structures. The impulse c onductivity at the synapse membranes also depends on the interactions between negatively charged sialic acid from the oligosaccharide parts of gangliosides and positively charged Ca ions. From individual brain regions of healthy foxes and foxes naturally infected with rabies viru s glycolipoprotein preparations were isolated. In them, the presence o f polysialogangliosides and the concentration of sialic acid, Ca ions, and proteins were evidenced. The concentration of sialic acid was inc reased in all tested brain regions of the infected foxes. In the prepa rations from the cortex cerebri or cornu Ammonis of the infected foxes , 20-fold higher levels of sialic acid and the decreased concentration s of Ca ions were recorded. The increase in sialic acid levels is dire ctly responsible for the augmented negative charge at synaptic membran es and, consequently, for a much higher permeability of these membrane s, which results in a persistent stimulation followed by the release o f neuro-transmitters.