The role of gangliosides in neurodevelopment

Abstract

Gangliosides are important components of neuronal cell membranes and it is widely accepted that they play a critical role in neuronal and brain development. They are functionally involved in neurotransmission and are thought to support the formation and stabilization of functional synapses and neural circuits required as the structural basis of memory and learning. Available evidence, as reviewed herein, suggests that dietary gangliosides may impact positively on cognitive functions, particularly in the early postnatal period when the brain is still growing. Further, new evidence suggests that the mechanism of action may be through an effect on the neuroplasticity of the brain, mediated through enhanced synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and nigro-striatal dopaminergic pathway.

Keywords: brain; cognition; gangliosides; neurodevelopment; neuroplasticity; nutrition.

Figure 1

Biosynthetic pathways and nomenclature of major brain gangliosides. The gangliosides are synthesised sequentially by a series of glycosyl and sialyl (S) transferases (T).

Figure 2

Potential mechanism for the effect of dietary ganglioside-containing complex milk lipid on learning and memory in postnatal rats. The diagram shows the nigra-striatal pathway in which the dopamine neurons project from the nigra to the striatum. Supplementation may increase the synaptic connectivity in the striatal dopamine terminals, depicted as amplification in the number of synaptic processes emerging from the terminal, and hence increase efficiency of dopamine trafficking.