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GM1-gangliosidosis in a cross-bred dog confirmed by detection of GM1-ganglioside using electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry

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Abstract

The post-mortem diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases can be confounded by the unavailability of suitable material. Here we report the diagnosis of GM1-gangliosidosis in a cross-bred dog, from which only formalin-fixed brain was available, by a combination of electron microscopy and the detection of elevated levels of GM1-ganglioside within the tissue using the novel technique of electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. Electron microscopic examination of ultrathin sections of resin-embedded tissue revealed cytoplasmic inclusions (membranous cytoplasmic and zebra bodies) in brain stem and cerebellar neurons that were characteristic of a gangliosidosis. Glycolipids were extracted from the fixed tissue and analysed by tandem mass spectrometry. Two major ions were detected, which corresponded to GM1 (d18:1–C18:0) and GM1 (d20:1–C18:0). Their identity was confirmed by comparison of their fragmentation patterns with those of authentic standards. The concentration of GM1 was approximately sixfold higher on a wet weight basis than in the brain of a normal control dog, confirming the diagnosis of GM1-gangliosidosis.

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Received: 21 June 1999 / Revised: 25 October 1999, 17 December 1999 / Accepted: 17 December 1999

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Whitfield, P., Johnson, A., Dunn, K. et al. GM1-gangliosidosis in a cross-bred dog confirmed by detection of GM1-ganglioside using electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry. Acta Neuropathol 100, 409–414 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010000187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004010000187

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