Brain gangliosides in hibernating dormice (Glis glis) and cold-exposed laboratory mice

The concentration of proteins, sialo-glycoproteins and gangliosides and the ganglioside composition of 8 brain regions from normothermic and hibernating fat dormice (Glis glis) and from laboratory mice being acclimated to 6, 22 and 28 degrees C were investigated. During hibernation the concentration of sialo-glycoproteins and gangliosides decreased significantly in brain of dormice; the protein content remained uninfluenced. Cold-exposure of laboratory mice yielded generally a slightly decreased sialo-glycoprotein concentration in brain; the data on ganglioside concentration in the CNS were not uniform. The ganglioside composition of brain of laboratory mice being kept at different environmental temperatures did not show any alterations. The brain gangliosides of hibernating dormice in contrast to their normothermic counterparts are more polar (higher amount of GTlb and GQlb.). Most striking is the complete absence of a distinct ganglioside fraction (O-acetylated-GTlb) during hibernation. Brain gangliosides of normothermic dormice were found to be more sensitive against neuraminidase treatment than those of hibernating animals. The results are discussed with regard to modulatory functions of neuronal gangliosides for the process of synaptic transmission during seasonal adaptation.