Differential distribution of major gangliosides in rat central nervous system detected by specific monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

We investigated the localization of major gangliosides in adult rat brain by an immunofluorescence technique with mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Five MAbs (GMB16, GMR17, GGR12, GMR5 and GMR13) that specifically recognize gangliosides GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b and GQ1b, respectively, were used. We have found that there is a cell type-specific expression of the ganglioside in the rat central nervous system. In cerebellar cortex, GM1 was expressed in myelin and some glial cells. GD1a was detected exclusively in the molecular layer. GD1b and GQ1b were present restrictedly on the granular layer; GD1b was detected on the surface of the granular cell bodies, whereas GQ1b was present in the cerebellar glomerulus. GT1b was distributed intensely in both the molecular layer and the granular layer. In cerebral cortex, GM1 was detected in some glial cells. Dense staining was limited to the white matter. GD1a was distributed in layers I, II/III and Va, and the upper part of layer VI, whereas GQ1b was localized in layers IV and Vb, and the lower part of layer VI. GD1b was detected beneath layer III. GT1b appeared to be distributed throughout all layers. In other regions, such as hippocampal formation and spinal cord, the expression of the ganglioside was also highly localized to a specific cell type and layer.

Dynamic changes of gangliosides expression during the differentiation of embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells into neural cells

“…For example, ganglioside GM1 is widely distributed throughout the peripheral nervous system and has regulatory roles during neurogenesis and regeneration of injured peripheral nerves (OgawaGoto et al, 1992;Stojiljkovic et al, 1996). Ganglioside GT1b is expressed in the synapses of the brain (Kotani et al, 1993). Exposure of the neurons to ganglioside GT1b for 3 days drastically enhances actin-rich dendrite generation (Higashi and Chen, 2004).…”

Protective effects of exogenous gangliosides on ROS-induced changes in human spermatozoa

“…25 A large number of gangliosides have been isolated from the brains of various organisms, but only four structures, GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b, constitute more than 90% of gangliosides in the brains of various mammalian species. 26 Depending on the number of sialic acid residues on the inner galactose, gangliosides belong to either b-ganglio-series (GD1b and GT1b) or a-ganglio-series (GM1 and GD1a). 27 Studies of their molecular structures have shown that the number of sugar units and the position and linkage type of sialic acids distinguish each ganglioside 28 and affect their physicochemical properties.…”

GM1 induces p38 and microtubule dependent ramification of rat primary microglia in vitro

“…Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids that are constituents of mammalian cell membranes, particularly abundant in neuronal cell membranes, and participate in various cellular events of the nervous system (Derry and Wolfe, 1967). GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b and GQ1b are major types of gangliosides found in the brain (Dreyfus et al, 1997;Kotani et al, 1993). They are different in the number and sites of sialic acid residues attached to the carbohydrates.…”