VARIETY OF SIALIC ACIDS OCCURRING IN THE BOVINE SUBLINGUAL GLAND

Sialoglycoconjugates were investigated in the bovine sublingual gland by direct visualization of sialic acid with specific lectins (LPA, SNA ) and by histochemical procedures combined with sialidase digestion an d lectins. The most reactive histological sructures were found to be a cini which contained glycoconjugates with terminal disaccharides consi sting of sialic acid linked to galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine. Res istance to periodate oxidation was interpreted as demonstrating a rele vant presence of C-7, C-8 and C-9 acetylated sialic acids. KOH-Sialida se-DBA and KOH-Alcian blue sequences allowed the identification of C-4 acetylated sialic acids.