Developmental Changes in Ganglioside Composition of Hippocampus, Retina, and Optic Tectum

Abstract

Ganglioside content and pattern were analyzed in the rat hippocampus and in the retina and optic tectum of the chick embryo during periods of maximum neural differentiation. Allometric plots of ganglioside sialic acid against tissue dry weight were linear on a log-log scale, in either one (hippocampus and retina) or two (optic tectum) phases and at unique rates for each tissue. Ganglioside patterns changed consistently during development with decreases in D3 and increases in M1 and D1a. The ratio of D3 to M1 + D1a was found to be a simple quantitative predictor of the extent of differentiation (particularly synaptogenesis) in each tissue. However, a full complement of gangliosides was found prior to the onset of significant synapse formation.