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Gangliosides in Axolemmal and Synaptic Membrane Fractions from Developing Rats: Effects of Maternal Ethanol Consumption on Offspring
Author(s) -
Noronha Antonio B.,
Druse Mary J.,
Gnaedinger Jean M.,
Kelly Gerard M.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1985.tb05598.x
Subject(s) - sialic acid , in utero , ethanol , chemistry , central nervous system , membrane , biochemistry , endocrinology , medicine , biology , pregnancy , fetus , genetics
Previous work from this laboratory has shown that in utero exposure to ethanol significantly alters the synthesis of glycoproteins in synaptic, axolemmal, and myelin membranes from developing rats. In an attempt to determine whether in utero exposure to ethanol similarly alters the synthesis of other glycoconjugates involved with cell‐cell interactions, the present study examined the influence of chronic maternal ethanol consumption prior to parturition on the content and synthesis of gangliosides in axolemmal and synaptic plasma membranes from developing rats. The results demonstrate that, in contrast to central nervous system glycoproteins, synaptic and axolemmal glycoUpids are minimally affected by in utero exposure to ethanol. At all ages examined (17 to 34 days of age), the offspring of control and ethanol‐treated rats had a comparable distribution of radiolabel among synaptic and axolemmal gangliosides, a normal concentration of ganglioside sialic acid in synaptic plasma membranes, and a near‐normal distribution of sialic acid among synaptic gangliosides. The present study provides evidence which indicates that the radiolabeling patterns of axolemmal and synaptic membrane gangliosides are similar. Specifically, the most heavily labeled synaptic and axolemmal gangliosides were G 11b (20–37% of the total radioactivity) and G 01s (20–32%). A smaller proportion of radioactivity was associated with G 01b (∼ 11–16%), G M1 (5–10%), and G 01b (4–11%), as well as with G D3 and the other monosialogangliosides (< 5%). During the age period examined the proportion of radioactive Grit increased in both membrane fractions.