EFFECT OF DEVELOPMENT ON THE GANGLIOSIDES OF HUMAN BRAIN

Abstract

Abstract— The ganglioside content and composition of brains from twenty‐five human fetuses, three new‐born babies and ten children, were studied. The ages ranged from 13 weeks gestation to 26 months postpartum. Each brain was divided into forebrain. cerebellum and brain stem. The concentration of total gangliosides rose to a plateau at different stages of development in the different parts, whereas the total amount reached a constant value at 9 months of age in each part. The developmental profile of individual gangliosides differed in the different parts of the brain. Thus, in the forebrain G D1a . and in the cerebellum G D1a rose to become the major gangliosides. The brain stem showed little change in its ganglioside pattern during the developmental period studied. The possible significance of these charges in the gangliosides during development is discussed.