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Glycosyltransferases in Different Brain Regions During Chick Embryo Development

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Abstract

Glycosphingolipids, in particular gangliosides, play a crucial role in neuronal development and are known to change dramatically in total content and distribution in different brain areas during embryogenesis. In the present work we analyzed the activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of gangliosides, at different periods of functional maturation in different regions of chick embryo brain. Our data demonstrate differences in the enzymatic activities in the examined areas; these differences might be correlated with the functional lateralization occurring in the brain during development. Significative differences were found in glycosphingolipid composition between controlateral cerebral hemispheres and optic lobes; these results together with previous data we found, contribute to reinforce our hypothesis on the occurrence of biochemical lateralization during early brain development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of General Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Milan, Italy

    Angela M. Rizzo, Federica Rossi & Bruno Berra

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  1. Angela M. Rizzo
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  2. Federica Rossi
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Rizzo, A.M., Rossi, F. & Berra, B. Glycosyltransferases in Different Brain Regions During Chick Embryo Development. Neurochem Res 27, 815–821 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020213209078

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