Ganglioside GM1 and GM3 in early human brain development: An immunocytochemical study

Abstract

The distribution of GM1 and GM3 gangliosides in human brain development between gestational week (g.w.) 6 and 15 was demonstrated by an immunocytochemical approach using polyclonal anti-GM1 and anti-GM3 antibodies. The first appearance of GM1- and GM3-positive cells was recorded as early as in g.w.6. Both antibodies labeled the cells in the ventricular zone of the telencephalic wall, with radially oriented fibers toward the pial surface, which represent radial glia cells with glia fibers. The intensive GM3 immunoreactivity was also exhibited in proliferating cells in the ventricular zone between g.w.6 and 12. During the period from g.w. 12 to 15, characterized by a rapid multiplication of neurons and glia cells, an increased number of GM1- and GM3-positive cells was observed. Prominent GM1 ganglioside staining was observed at the surface of the cell bodies in the ventricular zone. Besides surface labeling in migrating cells, GM1 immunoreactivity was identified inside the soma in the regions of cortical plate and subplate. GM1 immunoreactivity was more pronounced on the membrane of neuronal cells migrating along radial glia fibers, especially at the contact site between neuronal and glial cells. The GM3 ganglioside was localized mostly inside the soma, showing a granular immunoreactivity pattern. Our observations confirm the presence of GM1 and GM3 gangliosides in neuronal and glial cells in early human brain development. The involvement, especially of GM1 ganglioside in glia-neuronal contacts during migration of neuroblasts to their final destination, as well as the presence of GM3 ganglioside in proliferative cells in the ventricular zone of the telencephalic wall was also recorded.

The Cell Biology of Neurogenesis: Toward an Understanding of the Development and Evolution of the Neocortex

“…Given the vast body of literature available, it is somewhat surprising that so little is known about the role of membrane lipids in neural progenitor architecture and fate determination. The gangliosides GM1 and GM3 are highly enriched in the apical endfoot of human apical radial glial cells (Stojiljkovic et al 1996), consistent with the reported role of glycosphingolipids and gangliosides in signal transduction in stem cells ( Jung et al 2009). ABBA, a protein connecting membrane PIP2 and the actin cytoskeleton, is localized mainly in the basal endfoot of apical radial glial cells, and its downregulation inhibits process extension in vitro, suggesting a link between the www.annualreviews.org • Cell Biology of Neurogenesis membrane lipid-actin cytoskeleton interaction and cell polarity (Saarikangas et al 2008).…”

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).…”

Influence of dietary gangliosides on neonatal brain development

“…95 It has been noted that changes in ganglioside composition may be a consistent feature of brain differentiation. 100,101 In early stages of brain development, Stojiljkovic et al 102 verified the presence of GM1 and GM3 gangliosides in neuronal and glial cells. Glial-neuronal contacts made during migration of neuroblasts to the neurons final morphologic destination involved both GM1 and GM3.…”

“…Glial-neuronal contacts made during migration of neuroblasts to the neurons final morphologic destination involved both GM1 and GM3. 102 The presence of GM3 in proliferative cells in the ventricular zone of the telencephalic wall was previously verified. 102 The human brain's center for memory and learning is the hippocampus and it shows a 30% increase in ganglioside concentration between 16 and 22 weeks of gestation, but after birth, the ganglioside concentration starts to decrease along with the proportions of GD1a.…”

“…102 The presence of GM3 in proliferative cells in the ventricular zone of the telencephalic wall was previously verified. 102 The human brain's center for memory and learning is the hippocampus and it shows a 30% increase in ganglioside concentration between 16 and 22 weeks of gestation, but after birth, the ganglioside concentration starts to decrease along with the proportions of GD1a. 67 The decreasing proportion of GD1a is observed until 20-30 years of age.…”