Occurrence of GD3 Ganglioside in Reactive Astrocytes--an Immunocytochemical Study in the Rat Brain

Immunocytochemical study of ganglioside GD3 (II3 alpha(NeuAc alpha 2-8NeuAc)-LacCer) was performed in the cold lesions produced in the cerebral cortex of the rat brain, using mouse IgM anti-GD3 monoclonal antibody (DSG-1). Seven and 15 days after cold lesioning, GD3-like immunoreactivity was observed in reactive astrocytes. Thirty and 50 days after cold lesioning, GD3-like immunoreactivity was observed in the cells that formed glial scars. Normal astrocytes were not immunoreactive. Therefore, it is possible that GD3 may play an important role in the astrocytic functions required for the process of repair of edematous lesions in the central nervous system.