Membrane carbohydrate conjugates desialylation does not alter [3H]-dopamine uptake in rat striatal slices

Incubation of rat striatal slices induced a large decrease (about 50%) of DA uptake and a slight desialylation of polysialogangliosides (GT1b, GD1b, GD1a) with an increase of monosialogangliosides (GM1). Moreover, a pretreatment of slices by exogenous added neuraminidase of Vibrio cholerae did not modify DA uptake, although the pattern of gangliosides was modified and there was considerable loss (about 45%) of sialic acid in gangliosides and glycoproteins. It was verified that neuraminidase activity occured in synaptic membrane. Thus, DA uptake was apparently not altered by desialylation of plasma membrane carbohydrate conjugates.