Physiol. Res. 48: 143-148, 1999

Ganglioside Content and Composition in Rat Cerebellum After Prolonged Diazepam Treatment

S. R. DE LUKA, S. PROTIC, S. VRBAŠKI

Department of Neuropharmacology, Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Received March 5, 1998
Accepted January 11, 1999


Summary
The main purpose of this study was to determine the content and composition of cerebellar gangliosides after prolonged diazepam treatment and their possible recovery after diazepam withdrawal. Male Wistar rats were administered diazepam in a dose of 10 mg/kg/day in drinking water for 3, 5 or 6 months. A additional group of rats had a one-month recovery period after five months of diazepam treatment. Control animals were age-matched and pair-fed. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and the total cerebellar contents of ganglioside-NeuAc as well as its content in particular ganglioside fractions were estimated. After three months of diazepam consumption, no changes of ganglioside-NeuAc in investigated fractions (GQ1b, GT1b, GD1b, GD1a, GM1, GM2, and GM3) were observed. Five months of diazepam treatment caused a significant decrease in the total amount of gangliosides, which was evident in most of the investigated fractions, with the exception of the monosialoganglioside GM2. Six months of treatment induced a generalized decrease in all the investigated ganglioside fractions. The diazepam-induced ganglioside reduction found after five months of treatment was also present after a one-month recovery period. The only fraction ,which recovered and reached its control value ,was monosialoganglioside GM3.


Key words
Cerebellum · Ganglioside · Diazepam · Recovery · Rat


© 1999 by the Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences