Abnormalities in gangliosides and other lipids of monkey, rabbit and human brains with chronic organic mercury intoxication

The distribution patterns of gangliosides and other major lipids in the monkey, rabbit and human brains with chronic organic mercury intoxication were examined. Various areas of the monkey brains were tested for alterations in the lipid composition in detail. Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine slightly decreased, and sphingomyelin increased in all the areas tested of the intoxicated brains. The total ganglioside concentration was elevated in the frontal and basal ganglia gray matter tissues. In the percentage distribution of gangliosides, GD1b, GT1b and GQ1b (B pathway, 19, 20]) increased, while GM2, GM1 and GD1a (A pathway, 19, 20]) decreased. Similar ganglioside pattern changes were observed also in a human brain and in a rabbit brain with chronic organic mercury intoxication. The altered distribution patterns of gangliosides may be attributable to the proliferation of reactive astrocytes due to organic mercury.