GANGLIOSIDES AND PARKINSONISM

The protective effect of GM1 ganglioside against nerve cell death indu ced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was analyze d in monkey mesencephalon. Administration of GM1 before and during MPT P treatment improved motor performances compared with MPTP-treated ani mals that received saline rather than GM1. Postmortem analysis reveale d that GM1 did not protect dopaminergic cell bodies from MPTP intoxica tion but resulted in an increased immunoreactivity of tyrosine hydroxy lase in the perikarya and processes of the surviving neurons. These da ta suggest that GM1 may be potentially used as a palliative rather tha n a curative therapy in Parkinson's disease.