Microencapsulated monosialoganglioside GM1: physical properties and in vivo effects

The prevention of the decrease of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) enzymatic activity was achieved by applying GM1 in an animal model for studying retrograde degenerations of cholinergic neurons. Devascularizing lesions of the rat cortex led to a significant decrease in activity of ChAT in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM), but this decrease was effectively prevented by GM1 administration either centrally or locally in a microencapsulated form. Compared with the relatively large dose of GM1 which has to be given when the drug is administered. i.p. microencapsulated GM1 applied locally and directly over the lesioned cortical surface seems to be effective in much lower doses.