Ganglioside patterns in normal and lepromatous armadillo tissues.

Gangliosides derived from tissues of normal and lepromatous armadillos were examined by thin-layer chromatography. The ganglioside patterns produced by the Mycobacterium leprae-infected tissues varied from that of the normal tissue. Although increased levels of several gangliosides were observed in the infected tissues, there was an apparent preferential increase in GM3 gangliosides as determined by column chromatography and enzymatic hydrolysis.