Effect of streptozotocin diabetes on sialic acid content and glycoprotein binding of isolated hepatocytes.

The possible correlation between sialic acid content of hepatocyte plasma membranes, and their binding capacity was investigated. For that purpose, [3H] asialotransferrin binding was tested with hepatocytes from both normal and streptozotocin treated rats. The observed decrease in binding capacity was parallel to a decrease in the sialic acid content Insulin therapy restored simultaneously normal blood glucose level, hepatic membrane sialic acid content and binding capacity.