Effects Of Ganglioside GM1 In NGF-induced Differentiation Of PC-12 Cells

Objective: To determine if ganglioside GM1 conducts the differentiation of PC-12 cells induced by NGF and if so, the way it does.Methods: Effects of GM1 on the differentiation of PC-12 cells induced by NGF wasinvestigated by MTT assay, inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase(D-PDMP), antisense oligodeoxynucleotides technique, Fura-2/AM flourescein loading technique which can detect cytosolic [ca2+]i was used to study the mechanism .Results:1. Ganglioside GM1 had no effect on the growth of PC-12 cells, but it could enhance the inhibitory effect of NGF on the growth of PC-12 cells.2. NGF can induce the differentiation of PC-12 cells,but it didn't have the same effect on the PC-12 cells lack of ganglioside . While with GM1 , PC-12 cells could restore its character of responsing to NGF.3. The antisense oligodeoxynucleotides which can repress the synthesis of GD3 synthase had no effect on the differentiation of PC-12 cells induced by NGF. But the antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for GM2 synthase inhibited the differentiation of PC-12 cells induced by NGF.of PC-12 cells induced by NGF.4. Ganglioside GMl could enhance the effect of NGF on increasing the cytosolic [ca2+]i of PC-12cells.Conclusion:1. Exogenous ganglioside GMl enhances the inhibitory effect of NGF on the growth of PC-12 cells.2. Endogenous ganglioside GMl may take part in the process of differentiation of PC-12 cells induced by NGF.3. Ganglioside GMl may affect the differentiation of PC-12 cells induced by NGF by modulating the activity of membrane calcium channel.