Some chemical aspects of human brain development. I. neutral glycosphingolipids, sulfatides, and sphingomyelin

Neutral glycosphingolipids and sulfatides, as well as sphingomyelin, were studied in the brain of 34 newborn infants with gestational ages ranging from 22 to 45 weeks. The analyses were carried out in homogenates of whole cerebrum. The infants were considered to be free of any important cause of cerebral damage. Neutral glycosphingolipids and sulfatides were expressed by their content in hexose. Sphingomyelin was separated from other lipids by column chromatography and alkaline hydrolysis, and was expressed by its phosphorus content. The figures were plotted versus gestational ages. The index, brain weight/body weight per cent, was plotted against gestational ages in order to compare the increase of brain weight with the deposition of lipids. © 1974 International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.