SIALOSYLGALACTOSYL CERAMIDE AS A SPECIFIC MARKER FOR HUMAN MYELIN AND OLIGODENDROGLIAL PERIKARYA - GANGLIOSIDES OF HUMAN MYELIN, OLIGODENDROGLIA AND NEURONS

Gangliosides were isolated from human brain myelin, oligodendroglia, and neurons. Quantitative analysis revealed the following ganglioside contents: myelin, 2.0; neurons, 1.3; and oligodendroglia, 0.35 μg ganglioside sialic acid per mg protein. Myclin had a relatively simple ganglioside pattern with GM4 and GM1 as the predominant ganglioside species. The ganglioside pattern of oligodendroglia was quite complex and it resembled that of whole white matter rather than that of myelin. A high concentration of GM4 was found in oligodendroglial fractions in addition to GM1, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b. The usually‐ minor brain gangliosides GM3, GM2, and GM3 were also enriched in oligodendroglia. The neuronal ganglioside pattern was generally similar to the pattern of whole gray matter. Both neurons and whole gray matter contained very low amounts of GM4. These results indicate that GM4 is specifically localized in myelin and oligodendroglia of the CNS. Evidence is also presented that myelin, but not oligodendroglia, is the major reservoir of human white matter GM1 and GM4. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved