Structural and quantitative changes of carbohydrate chain of erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins in experimental diabetes mellitus after treatment with agmatine

It was shown that the development of experimental diabetes mellitus accompanied by increase of desialylation of carbohydrate determinants of erythrocytes membrane glycoproteins, removal of both O-linked and N-linked oligosaccharides from the glycoproteins and decrease of erythrocyte membrane negative charges. Treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with agmatine led to enhance the content of N-and O-glycans in the erythrocyte glycoproteins, increase in sialic acid content and restore the negative charge of the cell membrane. Detected changes in configuration of membrane components of red blood cells in diabetic animals after treatment with agmatine indicate circulating in the bloodstream cells with a repertoire of adhesion molecules and glycoprotein receptors, which are inherent to the population of young erythrocyte.