LIPIDS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM DURINGIN VITRODEGENERATION

Abstract

The changes in the concentration of lipids during the in vitro degeneration of cat brain slices and sciatic nerve have been determined after incubation in bicarbonate buffer for periods of time from 1 to 14 days. In brain slices incubated for 14 days there was a great decrease in the concentration of total phospholipid with no change in the concentration of cerebroside or total cholesterol. Of the individual phospholipids, there was a decrease in the concentration of sphingomyelin and cephalin and no significant change in the concentration of lecithin. In sciatic nerve incubated for eight days, there was a significant decrease in the concentration of cephalin and a decrease of borderline significance in the concentration of total phospholipid. There was no significant change in the concentration of cerebroside, free or total cholesterol, sphingomyelin, or lecithin. Thus in tissue of the nervous system, there appears to be a phospholipid-splitting mechanism, possibly enzymatic in nature.