Separation and Identification of Cerebrosides in Cerebrospinal Fluid by Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Cerebrosides of cerebrospinal fluid from subjects with no evidence of nervous tissue breakdown were isolated and analysed by thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry. Sphingosine was practically the only long-chain base, and both hydroxy-and normal fatty acids were present. The carbohydrate moiety, as identified by borate thin-layer chromatography, was galactose. For comparison glucosyl ceramides from plasma and galactosyl ceramides from brain were analysed by the same methods. It was evident that the composition of cerebrosides from cerebrospinal fluid and brain was practically identical and differed from that of plasma.

Key Words:

• Brain
• cerebrospinal fluid
• gas-liquid chromatography
• glycosyl ceramides
• mass spectrometry
• molecular species
• plasma
• silicic acid chromatography
• thin-layer chromatography
• trimethylsilyl ethers