Ganglioside changes in slow virus diseases: Analyses of chimpanzee brains infected with kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jacob agents

R. K. Yu, R. W. Ledeen, D. C. Gajdusek, C. J. Gibbs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brain gangliosides from chimpanzees infected with the viruses of kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease were isolated and subjected to quantitative and TLC analysis. Decreases of 40% and 25%, respectively, were found in total gray matter gangliosides. White matter of kuru showed a decline of 23%, whereas white matter of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease showed an increase in total gangliosides amounting to 20% on a wet weight basis and 34% related to dry weight. TLC patterns were relatively normal for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease except for possible slight decrease in G1, G2 and G2A. The kuru pattern was abnormal with marked increase of G3A in both white and gray matter and slight elevation of G5 and G6. G2A did not increase, which marked a major difference from the previously reported pattern of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)103-112
Number of pages10
JournalBrain Research
Volume70
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 12 1974
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

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