Neutral Glycosphingolipids and Ceramide Composition of Ethylnitrosourea‐Induced Rat Neural Tumors: Accumulation of Ceramide in Tumors

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Abstract
Experimental rat neural tumors in offspring were induced transplacentally by a single injection of a chemical carcinogen, ethylnitrosourea, 20 mg/kg body wt, in the tail vein of the mother. The neutral glycosphingolipid, sulfatide and ceramide composition of the tumors and the normal tissues from which the tumors originated is described. The content of nonhydroxy fatty acid (NFA) and hydroxy fatty acid (HFA) containing ceramide in all the neural tumors so far examined was significantly increased compared with the corresponding normal neural tissue. Some 8-18 mol% of total neutral glycolipids was as ceramide in neurinomas, oligodendrogliomas and meningiomas. Lactosylceramide in normal neural tissues was about 1 mol% of the total neutral glycosphingolipids. In various neural tumors, lactosylceramide increased up to 8 mol%. NFA- and HFA-containing cerebrosides constitute 94-100% of the neutral glycosphingolipids in normal neural tissues. In various neural tumors the mol percent of cerebrosides was significantly reduced. A high performance liquid chromatographic method was modified to analyze simultaneously ceramides, cerebrosides and higher neutral glycosphingolipids.

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