title: A therapeutic trial of gangliosides and thymosin in the Wobbler mouse model of motor neuron disease.
abstract: Mixed bovine gangliosides have been reported to enhance neuronal regeneration and sprouting. The Wobbler mouse model of motor neuron disease was used to test the clinical effects of long-term ganglioside administration on the course of the disease. Mixed gangliosides were injected subcutaneously into a group of 5 Wobbler mice and compared to a control group of 5 Wobbler mice which received saline. Because of several reports implicating involvement of the immune system in ALS, a 3rd group of 5 Wobbler mice received thymosin. All mice were 4 weeks old at commencement of injections. The 3 groups were examined weekly and graded with respect to front leg power, ability to climb a vertical grating, and walking posture. After 4 months of treatment, no significant difference between either experimental group and the controls was found.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009046:Motor Neurons; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013947:Thymosin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D013947:Thymosin