Hovsepyan L, Ghazaryan G and Hasmik Zanginyan
The aim of this work was to study the content of total and lipid-bound neuraminic (sialic) acid in erythrocyte membranes in patients with glaucoma. The results of our studies showed that glaucoma is accompanied by an increase in the total content of neuraminic acid obtained from glycoproteins and glycolipids. A study of the content of gangliosides made it possible to detect a decrease in all fractions of gangliosides, which is associated with the hydrolytic breakdown of gangliosides and with the increase of free neuraminic acid. The data obtained are interpreted in connection with the destruction of membranes, leading to a disruption of cellular functions.