Lipid changes in central nervous system membranes in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Lipid composition of myelin fractions isolated from Lewis rats during the early stage of the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) were determined by high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). When comparing the myelin fractions of EAE-affected animals with those of controls, the main differences were observed in the light fraction, where a decrease in the percentage of phospholipids (PH) relative to the total lipids was observed. These findings give further support that the light myelin fraction being the most sensitive at the onset of clinical symptoms must play a key role in demyelinating process.Abbreviations used EAE experimental allergic encephalomyelitis - PH phospholipids - CH cholesterol - GL galactolipid - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - SPM sphingomyelin - PC phosphatidylcholine - PS phosphatidylserine - PI phosphatidylinositol - CB cerebroside - CB-OH hydroxy-cerebroside - SULF sulfatides - BP basic proteins