BRAIN GANGLIOSIDES AND TEMPERATURE ADAPTATION IN EURYTHERMIC AND STENOTHERMIC TELEOST FISH (CARP AND RAINBOW-TROUT)

1. 1.|The brain ganglioside pattern of eurythermic carp (Cyprinus carpio) and stenothermic rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) was investigated by means of biochemical methods under experimentally induced temperature changes (acclimination), and seasonal temperature fluctuations (acclimatization). 2. 2.|In both species during the process of thermal adaptation to lowered environmental temperatures, changes in the brain gangliosides could be registered resulting in a more polar pattern. 3. 3.|While in carp this polysialization" was indicated by a decrease of all oligosialogangliosides in favour of more polar fractions; in rainbow trout a more differentiated change of the pattern occurred characterized by a significant decrease (∼ 60%) in the concentration of the monosialoganglioside GM3. 4. 4.|The results are discussed with respect to a possible involvement of neuronal gangliosides in the mechanism of thermal adaptation of poikilothermic animals to changes in the environmental temperatures. © 1979."