GM1 ganglioside counteracts selective neurotoxin-induced lesion of developing serotonin neurons in rat spinal cord
✍ Scribed by Dr. M. Fusco; M. Donà; F. Tessari; H. Hallman; G. Jonsson; A. Gorio
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1986
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 875 KB
- Volume
- 15
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0360-4012
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✦ Synopsis
The effect of exogenous monosialoganglioside GM1 on neurotoxin-induced lesioning of bulbo-spinal serotonergic neurons of newborn rats was studied by means of biochemical and immunocytochemical techniques. 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-HT, a selective serotonin neurotoxin) treatment of newborn rats caused a pronounced reduction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord, while an increase of 5- HT and 5-HIAA was found in the pons medulla. These biochemical alterations were regionally correlated with similar changes in 5-HT nerve terminal density analyzed by image analysis. GM1 administration (30 mg/kg for 4 consecutive days) antagonized the reduction of 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels induced by 5,7-HT treatment in the lumbar spinal cord of 2-month-old rats, as well as the decrease of 5-HT nerve terminal density in both thoracic and lumbar spinal cord of 1-and 2month-old rats. A minor counteracting effect of GM1 was found in the pons medulla where the neurotoxin induced an increase of 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels. These data support the hypothesis that GM1 may have a preventing action on retrograde degenerative processes following chemical lesion and/or a growthstimulating effect on injured 5-HT neurons.