GANGLIOSIDE COMPOSITION CHANGES IN SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES - ANALYSES OF 263K SCRAPIE-INFECTED HAMSTER BRAINS

Ganglioside composition in brains of terminally ill LVG/LAK golden Syr ian hamsters infected with the 263K strain of the scrapie agent was an alyzed. Results were compared to those obtained from noninfected anima ls matched by age, sex, and strain. Gangliosides extracted from scrapi e-infected animals showed little change in major components, while an increased number of new alkali-labile species appeared. Additionally, the animal strain employed demonstrated a significant polymorphism in brain ganglioside composition. No significant changes in incubation ti me, clinical development or pathologic features of scrapie were associ ated with this polymorphism.