A Possible Relationship between Brain N-Acetylneuraminic Acid Content and Behavior

Summary Repeated intraperitoneal injections of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) into malnourished and well-fed rats during the brain growth spurt were associated with a permanent increase in NANA concentrations in brain gangliosides and glycoproteins. Further, there was an alleviation of some expected behavioral abnormalities in the malnourished group and an above normal behavioral performance shown by the well-fed pups. The results suggest the existence of a relationship between NANA and behavior.