Ganglioside Structure, Func

The first few sessions were devoted to the "conventional" topics of structure, metabolism, and distribution. Although these represent the more established areas of ganglioside research, this meeting again demonstrated that they retain novelty and excitement despite their early origins. The same may be said of neurological diseases, which led to the discovery of these substances. Receptor function I remains a subject of keen interest, following the discovery of specific binding to cholera toxin a decade ago; a new perspective now emerging, that gangliosides may function in some cases as receptor modulators, was described in further detail. The most lively discussions occurred during the remainder of the program dealing with neuritogenesis, regeneration, and potential clinical applications. Earlier reports on the ability of exogenous gangliosides to induce neurite growth in cell cultures received additional support from several of the speakers. Also heard were reports on the use of various animal models to study gangliosides as agents for neurological regeneration and repair. While we tend to view these as newly discovered phenomena, it is well to recall the studies of Henry Mcllwain and his colleagues two decades ago demonstrating a restorative effect of exogenous gangliosides on "injured" neurons in their response to electrical stimulation. A similar theme - neuronal survival as facilitated by gangliosides - was developed by some of the speakers at this meeting. Further confirmation of these effects and elucidation of their mechanism could mark a turning point in ganglioside research. This effort will also assist in evaluating a proposed rationale for the employment of gangliosides as pharmaceutical agents in treatment of certain nervous system disorders. The final portion of the book contains several reports on clinical trials of this type. Finally, it is our pleasure to acknowledge the generous support for this meeting provided by the Fidia Research Laboratories. Contributions by the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association as well as the Fidia Laboratories provided a special scholarship fund that subsidized the attendance of several graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The ability to attract talented young investigators portends well for the future of the ganglioside field. Robert W. Ledeen Robert K. Yu Maurice M. Rapport Kunihiko Suzuki.