| Author/Editor | Kalanj, S; Kračun, I; Rosner, H; Ćosović, Č | |
| Title | Regional distribution of brain gangliosides in Alzheimer's disease | |
| Type | članek | |
| Source | Neurol Croat | |
| Vol. and No. | Letnik 40, št. 4 | |
| Publication year | 1991 | |
| Volume | str. 269-81 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Abstract | In this study, brain gangliosides of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD, N=5) were analyzed and compared with control human brains (C, N=3). Gangliosides were analyzed in seven brain regions: crebral cortex (fronatl, parietal, temporal and occipital), hippocampus, basal telencephalon and frontal white matter. The results demonstrated gangliosides to be decreased in the majority of regions analyzed, however, a significant decrease in gangliosides (nmol LBSA/mg proteins or g fresh weight) in frontal cortex and white matter (P less than 0.05) was recorded. When gangliosides were expressed in nmol LBSA/mg DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), their basal telencephalon, sugesting that high astroglial proliferation might have concealed the real neuronal degeneration. In the ganglioside composition, all human brain regions contained moderately decreased ganglio-series gangliosides (GT1b, GD1b, GD1a, GM1) but a statistically significant decrease was detected in frontal cortex, and white matter (nmol LBSA/g fresh weight) or frontal cortex, temporal cortex and basal telencephalon (nmol LBSA/mg DNA). In addition, frontal and parietal cortex also showed elevated concentration (nmol LBSA/g fresh weight) of simple gangliosides (GM2, GM3, GM4, GD3). A decreased concentration of ganglio-series gangliosides in Alzheimer's disease correlates with degeneration of cortical neurons. However, elevation of simple gangliosides in frontal and parietal cortex may correlate with: (a) an accelerated lysosomal degradation of gangliosides occurring during neuronal death (GM2); (b) astrogliosis (GM3 and GD3); and (c) activation of oligodendrocytes (GM4). The fact that gangliosides are altered in Alzheimer's disease might be important for better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease | |
| Descriptors | ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE GANGLIOSIDES BRAIN CHEMISTRY CHROMATOGRAPHY, THIN LAYER ADULT MIDDLE AGE AGED |