Changes in Particulate Neuraminidase Activity During Normal and Staggerer Mutant Mouse Development

Abstract
The activity of particulate neuraminidase (sialidase) in wild-type mice and the neurological mutant Staggerer was studied during development. Peak activity of this enzyme was observed at postnatal day [P] 3 in 3 tissues of normal mice: cerebellum, cerebrum and liver. In Staggerer neuraminidase peak activity was observed at P27 in the cerebellum; the activity was close to normal in Staggerer cerebrum and liver. Activities of other glycosidases in Staggerer (.alpha.-glucosidase (pH 3.7), .alpha.-glucosidase (pH 6.0), N-acetyl-.beta.-hexosaminidase, .beta.-glucosidase and .beta.-galactosidase) did not show significant variation compared with wild-type at P27 in any of the 3 tissues. The late activity peak of particulate neuraminidase activity in the Staggerer cerebellum is evidently neuraminidase-specific and not due to a general increase of lysosomal enzymes.