GM1 ganglioside inhibits ischemic release of amino acid neurotransmitters from rat cortex

The effects of a 20 min period of four-vessel occlusion cerebral ischemia followed by reperfusion on glutamate, aspartate, GABA and glycine efflux from the rat cerebral cortex were studied using a cortical cup technique. Cerebral ischemia increased amino acid concentrations in the cortical superfusates. When the cerebral cortices were exposed to topically applied GM1 ganglioside (50 microM) for 40 min prior to ischemia, the evoked efflux of all four amino acids was significantly inhibited. GM1 (1 microM) failed to inhibit amino acid release. The results support the concept that gangliosides have a cerebroprotective action.