Systemic treatments with GM1 ganglioside reduce quinolinic acid-induced striatal lesions in the rat.

The administration of GM1 ganglioside, 30 mg/kg per day i.p., begun 3 days prior to an intrastriatal injection of the excitotoxic tryptophan metabolite quinolinic acid (QUIN) and continued for 8-16 days thereafter, significantly decreased QUIN-induced striatal damage, as evaluated by measuring the activity of the marker enzymes, choline acetyltransferase and L-glutamic acid decarboxylase. Since an increased production of QUIN has been demonstrated in Huntington's chorea patients it is possible that repeated GM1 administration could reduce the occurrence of progressive striatal neuronal loss in this neurological disorder.