title: Effects of gangliosides on the in vitro development of neuroblastoma cells: An ultrastructural study.
abstract: The role of gangliosides in neuronal differentiation was studied by adding a mixture of bovine brain gangliosides to mouse neuroblastoma cells which were induced to differentiate through the application of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or sodium bromide (NaBr). GABA or NaBr was applied to 5-day-old cultures at concentrations ranging from 10(-4) to 10(-5)M. The cells were exposed to these substances over short periods of time (2 days). A mixture of bovine brain gangliosides was added to the 7-day-old cultures for 24-28 h. Electron microscopy revealed that ganglioside-induced morphological differentiation was accompanied by a significant number of mature synapse-like contacts. The GM1 gangliosides fraction apparently plays an important role in the formation of mature synapses, since none were observed when the GM1 was removed from the ganglioside mixture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Goettingen, Kreuzbergring 36, D-3400 Goettingen, FRG.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Spoerri