LIPIDS OF OCULAR TISSUES .I. PHOSPHOLIPIDS OF MATURE RABBIT AND BOVINE LENS

The first detailed analysis of mature bovine and rabbit lens phospholipids is reported. 1. 1. The phospholipid class composition of both species is similar. Sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylethanolamine are the major components, being present in near equal molar concentrations in each species. Lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol were also identified. 2. 2. Analysis of the fatty acids of the three major phospholipids, plus phosphatidylserine, revealed that each phospholipid class has its own characteristic composition. The same lipid classes from the two animals are similar, but not identical, in fatty acid concentrations. 3. 3. No polyunsaturated fatty acids were found in any of the lipid classes of either species. 4. 4. Mature bovine and rabbit lenticular phosphatidylethanolamine contains 35 and 29 mole% of ethanolamine plasmalogens, respectively. Plasmalogenic aldehydes from both species are made up primarily of analogues of palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids, oleic being the most abundant in each. © 1969.