Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses of rat alpha 1-macroglobulin (RMG) and bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) incubated with ICV in comparison with those incubated with neuraminidase from A. ureafaciens revealed that RMG and BSM incubated with ICV have a reduced amount of Neu5,9Ac2 but an increased amount of Neu5Ac.