title: GM1 ganglioside counteracts selective neurotoxin-induced lesion of developing serotonin neurons in rat spinal cord.
abstract: 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 2-month-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 growth-stimulating effect on injured 5-HT neurons.
mesh_terms: D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004102:Dihydroxytryptamines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004102:Dihydroxytryptamines; D009498:Neurotoxins; D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D012701:Serotonin; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside