Effect of development on the gangliosides of rabbit brain.

The effect of growth and development on the DNA and ganglioside-NANA of the rabbit forebrain, cerebellum and brainstem was studied. Animals were killed at 1 day of age and at intervals up to 180 days. The growth rate of each part of the brain fell during the first 30 days, but showed a spurt at about 40 days. The absolute amount of DNA reached its mature value by about 40 days. In the forebrain, the deposition of ganglioside-NANA rose sharply to a peak value at 50 days, falling to 120 days and rising again to 180 days, whereas in the cerebellum and brainstem the amount rose almost steadily to a mature value at 90 and 120 days, respectively. In the forebrain, the proportion of GD1a and GM1 showed a reciprocal rise and fall, respectively, during the first 10 days after birth, subsequently falling and rising to near mature values by 50 days. GD1a was the major ganglioside in the mature forebrain, whereas GT1 and GD1b were the major gangliosides in the mature cerebellum and in the mature brainstem, respectively.