Adrenal medulla gangliosides.

Abstract

The gangliosides were examined in adrenal glands of mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, monkey, pig, ox and chicken. GM3 ganglioside was predominant in all examined animals except pig. In pig GD3 ganglioside was the major one. GM4 ganglioside was found in guinea pig and chicken. The distribution of sialic acid varied in each species. NeuNGly containing gangliosides were not detected in rat, guinea pig, rabbit and chicken. The other animals have both NeuNAc and NeuNGly containing gangliosides. Chromaffin granules from bovine adrenal medulla contain gangliosides at concentrations 3 and 7 times as great as microsomal and mitochondrial fractions, respectively. These gangliosides were NeuNAc-containing GM3 and NeuNGly containing GM3 in the same amount.