Characterization of neutral glycosphingolipids from fetal human brain: evidence for stage-specific expression of the globo, ganglio, and neolacto series in the central nervous system

Neutral glycosphingolipids were isolated from normal human fetal brains, at 22 to 23 weeks gestation. They were identified as monohexosylceramides, lactosylceramide, and glycolipids belonging to the globo (globotriaosylceramide) and ganglio (gangliotriaosylceramide) series. In addition, considerable amounts of neolactotetraosylceramide and III3-alpha-fucosyl-neolactotetraosylceramide were detected. Although neutral glycolipids of the globo, ganglio, and neolacto series have been demonstrated in the brains of cases with some sphingolipidoses, they are not present in appreciable amounts in differentiated normal brain. Therefore, the present and previous observations would imply that the metabolism of these glycolipid series actively occurs in the normal brain at an early stage of differentiation and continues thereafter in the brain in the case of some sphingolipidoses. The diseased brain is most probably accompanied by a disturbance of differentiation.