Effects of glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor and ganglioside GQ1b on synchronous oscillations of intracellular Ca2+ in cultured cortical neurons

To evaluate the role of endogenous gangliosides in synapse formation, the glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-PDMP), was used to deplete glycosphingolipids (GSLs) of cultured rat cerebral cortical neurons. Synapse formation between the neurons was estimated by the synchronous oscillation of synaptic activity monitored by fura-2 calcium imaging. Treatment with D-PDMP resulted in dose- and time-dependent decreases in the frequency of synchronous oscillations. When a series of gangliosides (GM3, GM1, GD3, GD1b, GT1b, and GQ1b) was supplemented to the GSL depleted cells, only GQ1b was able to normalize the decreased frequency by D-PDMP. These results suggest that de novo synthesis of a particular molecular species of the gangliosides, GQ1b, is essential for synapse formation and synaptic activity.