Myelin Lipids in the Developing Cerebrum, Cerebellum, and Brain Stem of Normal and Undernourished Children

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Abstract
The developmental lipid profiles in the human cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem are presented, with special reference of galactolipids as myelin markers to trace myelination in the 3 main parts of the human CNS. A group of undernourished children were also studied to test the vulnerability of melinogenesis in the different regions of the human brain. Myelination was well advanced in the brain stem with regard to the other brain regions, a fact reflected in the much higher concentration of myelin lipids in the brain stem of the human fetus of 26 wk of gestational age. The cerebrum had the lowest galactolipid concentration during the prenatal period, galactolipid levels in the cerebellum being 4 times higher. From just before the end of gestation the accretion of galactolipids accelerated enormously in the cerebrum, whereas it slowed considerably in the cerebellum. Consequently, in relation to prenatal levels, galactolipids increased most rapidly in the cerebrum, followed by the cerebellum and the brain stem. These regional differences were in clear contrast to data from the rat, as was the finding that only the cerebrum of undernourished children had a galactolipid concentration significantly decreased with respect to normal values. A relationship between the different myelination patterns in the human and rat and the distinct vulnerability of myelinogenesis in the 2 spp. is suggested.