title: Neutral glycolipid and ganglioside composition of type-1 and type-2 astrocytes from rat cerebral hemisphere.
abstract: We reported previously that the major gangliosides in primary mixed-type astrocyte cultures are GM3 and GD3. To obtain more information regarding the exact distribution of glycosphingolipids in different types of astrocytes, we established a line of type-1 astrocytes that are characterized by a Ran-2 positive, broad flat morphology, and by the absence of binding to A2B5 antibodies. We also purified O-2A progenitor cells by immunopanning and cultured them in the presence of 10% newborn calf serum. They differentiated into type-2 astrocytes that were identified by immunostaining for each of GD3, A2B5, and GFAP. Using these cell cultures, we demonstrate that the major gangliosides were GM3 in type-1 astrocytes and GM3 and GD3 in type-2 astrocytes. In addition, a set of neutral glycolipids was identified based on the HP-TLC migration properties of CMH, CDH, CTH, and Glob, but the component distribution of these glycolipids is related to that of glycolipids of astrocytes. A marked increase in the expression of CTH and Glob was shown in type-2 astrocytes. The amount of neutral glycolipid-sugar was higher in the type-2 astrocytes than in the type-1 astrocytes. These results suggest that the increase in the total glycosphingolipid content and the change in the neutral glycolipid composition produced by type-2 astrocytes may be related to their biological functions and the cellular compositions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Keio-University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunimoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uyemura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D006017:Glycolipids