GM-1 ganglioside treatment reduces motoneuron death after ventral root avulsion in adult rats

After ventral root avulsion, a large percentage of the wounded spinal moton eurons die within 2 weeks. Neuronal death is preceded by a series of morpho logical and physiological changes probably as a result of both apoptotic an d necrotic mechanisms. Associated with neuronal death, inflammation develop s in the wounded area, resulting in additional neuronal loss as well as the degeneration of fibers from different tracts of the ventral and lateral fu niculi. In the present study we tested the neuroprotective and local anti-i nflammatory effects of monosialoganglioside (GM-1) after an initial 150 mg/ kg body weight dose, followed by the daily administration of 100 mg/kg body weight for 2 weeks. The results showed a statistically significant enhance ment of surviving motoneurons which showed good morphological preservation. Also, GM-1 treatment reduced by less then a half, the number of degenerati ng fibers into the ventral and lateral funiculi. Taken together, our result s indicate that the administration of GM-I in high doses during the critica l period of motoneuron death after avulsion is neuroprotective, and diminis hes local inflammation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.