Role of the 9-O-acetyl GD3 in subventricular zone neuroblast migration

In the mammalian central nervous system the subventricular zone (SVZ) is one of the few neurogenic regions that persist postnatally. Neuroblasts generated in the SVZ migrate from this region tangentially towards the olfactory bulbs via the rostral migratory stream (RMS) and give rise to interneurons. In previous studies, an important role in radial migration of cerebellar granule neurons has been attributed to the 9-O-acetylated GD3 ganglioside. Previous data demonstrated the expression of 9-O-acetyl GD3 in the rostral migratory stream in vivo as well as in chains of neuroblasts that migrate from SVZ explants in vitro. Herein, using the Jones monoclonal antibody (Jones mAb), we combined SVZ explant migration measurements and time-lapse videomicroscopy of migrating neuroblasts to show that SVZ neuroblast migration is inhibited by the antibody that recognizes 9-O-acetyl GD3 but not by A2B5, an antibody that recognizes c-series gangliosides. In addition, inhibition of ganglioside synthesis results in reduction of migratory halos around SVZ explants. Coherently, we show that most migratory neuroblasts which express the embryonic form of NCAM co-express 9acGD3. Also, we observe that some of the ganglioside positive neuroblasts also express nestin consistent with their maintained proliferative capacity. These results strongly support that the 9-O-acetyl GD3 has a pivotal role in neuroblast migration from SVZ, being fundamental for cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions in this region.