Molecular specificity of ganglioside effects on neurite regeneration of sensory neurons in vitro.

Highly purified preparations of individual gangliosides have been tested for their ability to modulate the survival and morphological differentiation of embryonic chick dorsal root ganglion neurons. When added at 48 h to established cultures of nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent neurons, all ganglioside species tested increased the expression of neurofilament protein. Poly- and trisialogangliosides were more effective than di- or monosialogangliosides. In contrast, neither NGF nor an antiserum against NGF influenced neurofilament protein expression over this period of culture. In addition, ganglioside-induced expression of neurofilament protein was not inhibited by the anti-NGF serum.