The fatty acid composition of major glycosphingolipids (cerebrosides and sulfatides) in human cerebral white matter measured by a simple micromethod

A micromethod for the investigation of the fatty acid composition of myelin glycosphingolipids (cerebrosides and sulfatides) suitable for general application in the investigation of neurological disorders, especially demyelinating diseases, is presented. Using the lipids extracted from 1 g of material these are freed of phospholipids by Florisil column chromatography and separated by thin-layer chromatography into 2 cerebroside and sulfatide fractions which are analyzed individually. The results obtained from the white matter of 13 normal adult brains are distributed within a narrow range which is most pronounced for the group of long chain fatty acids. Our results also agree with those quoted from literature.