Sialic acid metabolism in regenerating rat liver.

Sialic acid metabolism was investigated in control rat liver, in regenerating liver at 24 h and 48 h after partial hepatectomy and in the liver of sham-operated animals. High levels of membrane-bound neuraminidase, with no detectable changes in the soluble enzyme, were observed in regenerating rat liver. The neuraminidase activities in the liver of sham-operated rats were identical to those present in control liver. High levels of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase and sialyltransferase were observed both in regenerating liver as well as in the liver of sham-operated rats. The sialic acid content of regenerating rat liver, which was lower than that found in the liver of control and sham-operated rats at 24 h, returned to normal values 48 h after surgery.