Mildred Kaucher

Composition of the human placenta: II. Lipid content

Abstract The total lipid (phospholipid [cephalin, lecithin and sphingomyelin] free and combined cholesterol, cerebrosides and neutral fat) distribution in nine human placentas is reported. No great individual variations in the lipid pattern were noted. Of the total lipid, one-fourth was neutral fat. Phospholipid comprised three-quarters of the essential lipid (total lipid minus neutral fat); and of the phospholipid content, one-half was lecithin, one-third was cephalin, and 14 per cent was sphingomyelin. The total lipid averaged 12.36 per cent of the dry weight, of which 3.51 per cent was neutral fat and 8.85 per cent was essential lipid. Of the dry weight, 0.53 per cent was cerebrosides, 0.99 per cent was free cholesterol, 0.54 per cent was cholesterol esters, and 6.79 per cent was phospholipid. Cephalin averaged 2.26 per cent of the dry weight of the placentas, lecithin was 3.55 per cent, and sphingomyelin was 0.98 per cent.

Composition of the human placenta

Abstract The total lipid (phospholipid [cephalin, lecithin and sphingomyelin] free and combined cholesterol, cerebrosides and neutral fat) distribution in nine human placentas is reported. No great individual variations in the lipid pattern were noted. Of the total lipid, one-fourth was neutral fat. Phospholipid comprised three-quarters of the essential lipid (total lipid minus neutral fat); and of the phospholipid content, one-half was lecithin, one-third was cephalin, and 14 per cent was sphingomyelin. The total lipid averaged 12.36 per cent of the dry weight, of which 3.51 per cent was neutral fat and 8.85 per cent was essential lipid. Of the dry weight, 0.53 per cent was cerebrosides, 0.99 per cent was free cholesterol, 0.54 per cent was cholesterol esters, and 6.79 per cent was phospholipid. Cephalin averaged 2.26 per cent of the dry weight of the placentas, lecithin was 3.55 per cent, and sphingomyelin was 0.98 per cent.