title: Trisialoganglioside GT1b induces in vivo degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons: role of microglia.
abstract: We recently showed that trisialoganglioside (GT1b) induces cell death of dopaminergic neurons in rat mesencephalic cultures (Chung et al., Neuroreport 12:611-614, 2001). The present study examines the in vivo neurotoxic effects of GT1b on dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) of Sprague-Dawley rats. Seven days after GT1b injection into the SN, immunocytochemical staining of SN tissue revealed death of nigral neurons, including dopaminergic neurons. Additional immunostaining using OX-42 and OX-6 antibodies showed that GT1b-activated microglia were present in the SN where degeneration of nigral neurons was found. Western blot analysis and double-labeled immunohistochemistry showed that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was expressed in the SN, where its levels were maximal at 8 h post-GT1b injection, and that iNOS was localized exclusively within microglia. GT1b-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in the SN was partially inhibited by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, an NOS inhibitor. Our results indicate that in vivo neurotoxicity of GT1b against nigral dopaminergic neurons is at least in part mediated by nitric oxide released from activated microglia. Because GT1b exists abundantly in central nervous system neuronal membranes, our data support the hypothesis that immune-mediated events triggered by endogenous compounds such as GT1b could contribute to the initiation and/or the progression of dopaminergic neuronal cell death that occurs in Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Brain Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Won H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: Yong B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Young J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Seung U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D030161:Avian Proteins; D051926:Basigin; D001798:Blood Proteins; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D005911:Gliosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D030161:Avian Proteins; D001798:Blood Proteins; C102624:Bsg protein, Gallus gallus; C079432:Bsg protein, rat; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005732:Gangliosides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051926:Basigin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C016481:trisialoganglioside GT1; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D004298:Dopamine