Naslov
Regional distribution of brain gangliosides in Alzheimer's disease

Autori
Kalanj, Svjetlana ; Kračun, Ivica ; Roesner, Harald ; Ćosović, Čedomir

Izvornik
Neurologia Croatica (0353-8842) 40 (1991), 4; 269-281

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
gangliosides ; regional distribution ; Alzheimer's disease

Sažetak
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: cerebral cortex (frontal, 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, suggesting 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.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

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