Alteration of cerebral ganglioside metabolism in developing Snell dwarf mice

The ganglioside metabolism of the Snell dwarf cerebrum was examined on postnatal days 15 and 20, by monitoring the rate of incorporation of radioactivity into each ganglioside species from tritiated N-acetyl-D-mannosamine. It was found that the turnover rate of the GM3 ganglioside was reduced throughout the entire period of development, resulting in retardation of A pathway metabolism which becomes abundant during late cerebral development. In addition, the turnover rate of the GM4 species, which is considered related to myelin formation, was also found to be reduced throughout the entire period of cerebral development.