The effect of exogenous gangliosides on neurons in culture: A morphometric analysis

Cultures of isolated neurons have been treated with a purified preparation of gangliosides (10(-5)M and 10(-9)M) added to the cell growth medium at the 3rd day in culture and a morphometric analysis of the cells was performed with an image analyzer after 1 and 4 days of treatment. The number of cells and the area of the cell bodies were increased following the treatment. The results indicate as well the 'sprouting' effect of the glycolipids on the number of secondary neuronal processes and an increase in the length of the primary neuntes. The present data and other biochemical evidence (Dreyfus et al., 1984, J. Neurosci. Res.) suggest that the addition of exogenous gangliosides may have a trophic effect on neurons, greatly enhances the number of cell to cell contacts, and, possibly, stimulates cell proliferation and differentiation.