Trisialoganglioside GT1b prevents increase in sperm membrane molecular ordering induced by in vitro lipid peroxidation.

The effect of various types of gangliosides, the sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, on human sperm membrane during lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(2+)/ascorbate ions was investigated. The monosialoganglioside (GM1), disialogangliosides (GD1a and GD1b), and trisialoganglioside (GT1b) were examined at a concentration of 100 microM, which was above their respective critical micellar concentrations. Lipid peroxidation was determined by quantification of malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration.

Reduction of oxidative changes in human spermatozoa by exogenous gangliosides.

The effect of exogenous gangliosides, the sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, on oxidative changes in human spermatozoa was investigated. The incorporation of disialogangliosides or trisialogangliosides (GD1b and GT1b, respectively) into the iron/ascorbate promoter system for induction of lipid peroxidation decreased the release of malondialdehyde (MDA) from peroxidizing spermatozoa. The application of monosialogangliosides and disialogangliosides (GM1 and GD1a, respectively) did not have any effect under identical experimental conditions.