Abstract
Sialic acid was removed enzymatically from whole and fractionated lyophilized canine tracheal mucus. The intrinsic viscosity of the desialized and original mucus was determined at several values of pH and ionic strength. Removal of sialic acid did not have a significant effect on the intrinsic viscosity of the mucus at physiologic conditions of pH and ionic strength. Measurement of the viscoelastic shear moduli in solutions whose concentration was typical of whole mucus showed increases in the shear moduli as a result of desialization. The transport velocity of desialized mucus on the frog palate showed a small decrease consistent with the increase in elasticity. Zeta potential measurements indicated that desialization did indeed significantly reduce the molecular charge of the mucus.
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