NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF GANGLIOSIDES MAY INVOLVE INHIBITION OF NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE

Gangliosides are polar, sugar-containing lipids that are major constit uents of neuronal membranes. Gangliosides are neuroprotective in anima l models of neurotoxicity and may also be useful in patients with clin ical conditions such as spinal cord injury. We show that a series of g angliosides inhibit nitric oxide synthase activity by binding calmodul in. The prevention of glutamate neurotoxicity in cortical cultures by gangliosides closely parallels their potencies in binding calmodulin a nd inhibiting nitric oxide synthase. Neuroprotective effects of gangli osides may arise from blockade of nitric oxide formation.