Abstract

GM 1 ganglioside (GM 1) has in the past been reported to promote regenerative sprouting and functional recovery in both central and peripheral nervous systems. The present experiments were performed in order to investigate whether GM 1 might have any therapeutic effect on young mice who had been exposed to the Parkinson-producing neurotoxin MPTP. GM 1 caused moderate to dramatic increases in striatal dopamine levels, depending upon duration of exposure to GM 1, in animals previously exposed to MPTP. Furthermore, the effects of GM 1 on enhancing striatal dopamine levels were apparent when GM 1 administration was delayed until 3 days after the last MPTP injection was given and these effects were not reversed when GM 1 was withdrawn. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry of the striatum demonstrated increased numbers of TH-positive fibers and TH-positive terminal fields in GM 1-treated animals as compared to animals that received only MPTP. TH immunohistochemistry of the substantia nigra revealed little or no loss of pars compacta neurons in the MPTP-treated mice. On the basis of these observations, GM 1 appears to increase the dopamine content of the striatum by promoting or stimulating regenerative sprouting of dopaminergic terminals and perhaps collateral sprouting from remaining intact fibers in the MPTP model of Parkinsonism in the young mouse. We suggest that GM 1 ganglioside may hold some promise as a potential adjunct in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease.

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