[Aspects of the large divergence in the sialic acid level of the blood serum of poultry].

Scanning electron microscopy made it possible to establish that there were no echocytic forms of the erythrocytes in chickens in which the blood serum level of sialic acid was below 35 and over 60 mg%. The amount of the total protein and the individual protein fractions did not correlate with the level of sialic acid. On the other hand, the high level of sialic acid could be accompanied by both low and high blood sugar content. Contrary to mammals the blood serum level of sialic acid in chickens was found to vary within a wide range. This could be explained by the amount and composition of the gall secretion which had an impact on the aging of erythrocytes and the enzyme activity of their membrane. Stated is the part played by the occasional mechanism in the 'decialization' process with regard to glucoproteins in vivo and the opinion is set forth that the mechanism of triggering the proteolytic activity of the membrane of aging erythrocytes could be associated with certain components of the bile.