Genetic variability for regional brain gangliosides in five strains of young mice

Thomas N. Seyfried, Gilbert H. Glaser, Robert K. Yu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

The quantitative and qualitative distributions of gangliosides were determined in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem of five inbred strains (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, LG/J, C3H/HeJ, BALB/cJ) of mice at 21 days of age. Genetic differences were found among the strains for wet weight, absolute amount of gangliosides per region, and concentration of ganglioside (expressed on both a wet and a dry weight basis) in all three regions of the brain. The water content of the various brain regions showed the least amount of genetic variability. Coefficients of genetic determination were used to estimate the magnitude of genetic influence on these traits in each brain region. Significant differences were also found among the five strains for the distribution of certain gangliosides. The DBA strain, which is susceptible to audiogenic seizure at this age, had the highest level of the myelin-enriched ganglioside GM1 in all brain regions. Most of the genetic variation that influences the content and distribution of gangliosides among neurologically normal mice can be considered polygenic. Several possible sources of this genetic variation that may contribute to the differences observed among the strains are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)43-55
Number of pages13
JournalBiochemical Genetics
Volume17
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1979
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • audiogenic seizures
  • brain gangliosides
  • inbred mouse strains

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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