Differential distribution of glycosphingolipid antigens in the central nervous system

We established an improved method for the generation of mouse monoclonal an tibodies (MAbs) to glycosphingolipids especially gangliosides, sialic acid- containing glycosphingolipids. by immunizing mice with purified ganglioside s. Using this method, we generated and characterized a large number of the MAbs specific for gangliosides. These MAbs enabled us to examine the distri bution of gangliosides in the brain. Immunohistochemical studies revealed t hat (i) the expression of each ganglioside is restricted to subsets of neur onal cells and their surrounding neuropils in the central nervous system of the adult rat, including cerebrum, cerebellum, hippocampus, and spinal cor d, and (ii) the expression of gangliosides changes during the development. Immunocytochemical studies also revealed a cell type-specific expression of gangliosides in primary cultures of the rat cerebellum. These results sugg est that the specific gangliosides may play important roles in various phen omena, involving cell-cell recognition, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, transmembrane signalling, apoptosis, and cell growth and differentiation in the central nervous system.