STUDIES ON THE COMPOUND LIPIDS FROM X-RAY IRRADIATED ANIMAL. I. CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPOUND LIPIDS FROM THE ORGANS OF X-RAY IRRADIATED RABBITS

An analysis was made of the compound lipids of the orgins of rabbits irradiated with x rays. Silicic acid column chromatography was applied for the fractionation of the compound lipids. Each fraction was analyzed by silicic acid- impregnated paper chromatography and infrared spectrophotometry. The result proved that the compound lipids showed some qualitative and quantitative changes. The changes occurred mainly in glycerophosphatides showing the formation of high level lyso-phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine. The fatty acid compositions of the compound lipids were determined by means of gas-liquid chromatography. Further, polyunsaturated fatty acids were analyzed as fatty acid bromide. Major differences found in fatty acid patterns included: in the irradiated group the amounts of C/sub 18/-monoenoic, C/sub 18/-dienoic, C/sub 18/- trienoic, C/sub 20/-tetraenoic, and C/sub 22/-acids were decreased and of C/sub 16/- and C/sub 16/-monoenoic acids were increased. It has been elucidated that lysophosphatides not only possess a strong hemolytic power but also induce swelling of the rat liver mitochondria. It is suggested that the lysophosphatides and ethanolamine are responsible, at least partially, for the cell damage induced by x rays. (auth)