Selective chemical changes of gonadotropic hormones by means of neuraminidase from Vibrio cholerae.

Experiments indicate that Neuraminidase from Vibrio Cholerae selectively cleaves sialic acid derivate from FSH, but leaves the LH sialic acid derivative. By performing a specific test for LH - the OAAD test - we found that the LH activity is not influenced by the presence of Neuraminidase. The FSH activity is destroyed by Neuraminidase but the enzyme itself influences the ovarian weight, resulting in a weight decrease observed 48 hours after injection. Before or after this "critical time" no decrease is observed.