Human brain myelin, neurons, and oligodendroglia contained 2.0, 1.3, and 0.35 μg ganglioside sialic acid per mg protein, respectively, with GM4 specifically localized in myelin and oligodendroglia.
This study identifies GM4 as a specific marker for human myelin and oligodendroglial perikarya in the central nervous system.
Abstract— Gangliosides were isolated from human brain myelin, oligodendroglia, and neurons. Quantitative analysis revealed the following ganglioside contents: myelin, 2.0; neurons, 1.3; and oligodendroglia, 0.35 μg ganglioside sialic acid per mg protein. Myclin had a relatively simple ganglioside pattern with G M4 and G M1 as the predominant ganglioside species. The ganglioside pattern of oligodendroglia was quite complex and it resembled that of whole white matter rather than that of myelin. A high concentration of G M4 was found in oligodendroglial fractions in addition to G M1 , G D1a , G D1b , and G T1b . The usually‐ minor brain gangliosides G M3 , G M2 , and G M3 were also enriched in oligodendroglia. The neuronal ganglioside pattern was generally similar to the pattern of whole gray matter. Both neurons and whole gray matter contained very low amounts of G M4 . These results indicate that G M4 is specifically localized in myelin and oligodendroglia of the CNS. Evidence is also presented that myelin, but not oligodendroglia, is the major reservoir of human white matter G M1 and G M4 .
Yu et al. (Thu,) reported a other. Human brain myelin, neurons, and oligodendroglia contained 2.0, 1.3, and 0.35 μg ganglioside sialic acid per mg protein, respectively, with GM4 specifically localized in myelin and oligodendroglia.