Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor and ganglioside GM1 on neuronal survival in primary cultures and on eight-arm radial maze task in adult rats following partial fimbria transections

Abstract

The effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and ganglioside GM1 (GM1) were evaluated alone and simultaneously in two types of experiments. First, the neuronal survival of primary culture neurons from fetal rat brain was measured. Then, performance on radial maze task in adult male rats following bilateral partial Fimbria-Fornix transections (F-F lesion) was tested. In primary culture neurons, bFGF (1-10 ng/ml) supported the neuronal survival from three regions (hippocampus, cortex and septum) of embryonic rat brain. However, GM1 (0.1-10 micrograms/ml) did not support the neuronal survival from any regions. Survival of cultured neurons was not supported by addition of 0.1 ng/ml bFGF, but when bFGF (0.1 ng/ml) and GM1 (0.1, 1 microgram/ml) were given to the cultured neurons simultaneously, the number of surviving neurons increased significantly. In the eight-arm radial maze task, where only the same four arms were baited, F-F lesion produced substantial memory impairment. In this task, administration of bFGF (10 micrograms/ml) or GM1 (1 mg/ml) alone did not produce any effects. However, when they were given simultaneously, the number of working memory errors decreased significantly, in spite of no amelioration for hippocampal choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) depletion. These findings indicate that actions of bFGF may be potentiated by the addition of GM1 in both primary neuronal cultures and radial maze task performance. These results suggest that the combination of bFGF and GM1 may synergistically improve spatial memory deficits.

GM1 Delivery to the CSF Via the Olfactory Pathway

“…In vivo studies conducted by Fong et al (1995) showed enhancement of ChAT activity in aged rats after intraperitoneal administration of GM1. GM1 combined with basic ® broblast growth factor also improved memory in lesioned rats (Iwashita et al 1996). In addition, recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury by GM1 has been shown (Geisler et al 1991).…”

“…Casamenti et al (1989) also demonstrated that GM1, when injected into the brain of rats with unilateral lesion of the nucleus basalis, alleviate cholinergic de® cits by protecting the cholinergic neurons of the nucleus basalis from ibotenic neurotoxicity. GM1 has also been shown to potentiate the effects of neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth (Garafalo and Cuello 1994) and basal ® broblast growth (Iwashita et al 1996) in enhancing ChAT activity and in improving memory of rats with partial ® mbria transections.…”

Uptake of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein mediated by angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and ganglioside in human cerebrovascular cells

“…GM1 levels in CSF has been shown to improve day-to-day activity in AD ( Augustinsson et al, 1997 ), and it increases choline acetyl esterase activity (ChAT) ( Fong et al, 1995 ). It potentiates the effects of neurotrophic factor ( Facci et al, 1990 ; Ferrari et al, 1993 ; Garofalo and Cuello, 1994 ) and basic fibroblast growth factor ( Iwashita et al, 1996 ). GM1 has been shown to reduced amyloid-β toxicity ( Kreutz et al, 2011 ).…”