MEIBOMIAN LIPIDS OF THE RABBIT .1. OVERALL COMPOSITION

The collection and analysis of rabbit meibomian secretion are described. Wax esters and sterol esters together made up 78·5% of the total secretion, and GLC of both the crude lipid mixture and the mixed ester fraction showed six major peaks each greater than 5% of total peak area. Only small amounts of other lipid classes were present. GLC analysis of fatty acids and alcohols following hydrolysis showed all chains to be saturated. The range of acyl chains was from C15 to C29, almost exclusively odd-numbered and anteiso-branched. Only three fatty alcohols were found, anteiso-C25, anteiso-C27 and anteiso C29. Cholesterol, cholestanol and a third unidentified sterol were also found, which together made up 77·6% of the alcohol fraction. © 1979.