GM1 ganglioside prevents axonal regeneration inhibition and cognitive deficits in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of neurological damage in young populations. It has been previously suggested that one of the mechanisms that underlie brain injury is Axonal Outgrowth Inhibition (AOI) that is caused by altered composition of the gangliosides on the axon surface. In the present study, we have found a significant reduction of GM1 ganglioside levels in the cortex in a closed head traumatic brain injury model of a mouse, induced by a weight drop device. In addition, axonal regeneration in the brains of the injured mice was affected as seen by the expression of the axonal marker pNF-H and the growth cones (visualized by F-actin and β-III-tubulin). NeuN immunostaining revealed mTBI-induced damage to neuronal survival. Finally, as expected, spatial and visual memories (measured by the Y-maze and the Novel Object Recognition tests, respectively) were also damaged 7 and 30 days post injury. A single low dose of GM1 shortly after the injury (2 mg/kg; IP) prevented all of the deficits mentioned above. These results reveal additional insights into the neuroprotective characteristics of GM1 in prevention of biochemical, cellular and cognitive changes caused by trauma, and may suggest a potential intervention for mTBI.