Gangliosides minimize motor disabilities and histopathological changes in cortical lesioned and transplanted rats

Arch Med Res. 1996 Winter;27(4):465-71.

Abstract

The effect of bovine brain gangliosides was studied in rats lesioned by partial suction of the right somatosensory cortex and also in rats implanted with a piece of fetal brain tissue in this area. In both experiments a group of animals received 30 mg/kg i.p. of gangliosides daily for a period of 7 days after surgery. In lesioned rats, the untreated group showed a lower maintenance on a tight rope test at 7 as well as at 14 days, as compared with a sham-operated group (p < 0.05). In transplanted rats ganglioside treatment prevented the increase of the probability of falls from a horizontal bar at days 7 and 14 post-operations and the probability of slips on a vertical bar at day 7 (p < 0.05). Rats were killed at day 15 and brain coronal sections were obtained. Nuclear area and circularity were measured in a sample of cortical and grafted cells in a computer aid-image analyzer. Ganglioside protection on the normal size and shape of the nuclei in the ipsilateral cortex in lesioned as well as in transplanted rats (p < 0.01) was found. A higher nuclear area in ganglioside than in saline treated grafts was noted. Results suggest a protective action of the gangliosides against the lesion-induced motor dysfunction and secondary cortical cell degeneration.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Brain Tissue Transplantation*
  • Cattle
  • Gangliosides / pharmacology*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Movement Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Rats
  • Somatosensory Cortex / drug effects*
  • Somatosensory Cortex / pathology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiopathology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / surgery

Substances

  • Gangliosides