Original Article

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1984) 83, 193–195; doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12263553

Sphingolipids of the Stratum Corneum and Lamellar Granules of Fetal Rat Epidemis

Philip W Wertz1, Donald T Downing1, Ruth K Freinkel2 and Thomas N Traczyk2

  1. 1Marshall Dermatology Research Laboratories, Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa, U.S.A.
  2. 2Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Received 24 January 1984; Accepted 20 March 1984.

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Abstract

Sphingolipid profiles have been determined for whole epidermis, a subcellular fraction enriched in lamellar granules, and a fraction enriched with stratum corneum derived from fetal rat skin. In each case, 4 groups of glucosylceramides and 6 groups of ceramides have been identified by thin-layer chromatographic comparison with structurally defined sphingolipids from pig epidermis. The relative amounts of the sphingolipids in each preparation have been quantified by photodensitometry of the charred chromatograms. Lamellar granule sphingolipids had elevated proportions, relative to whole epidermis, of acylceramides, acylglucosylceramides, and a glucosylceramide fraction which may be produced by O-deacylation of the acylglucosylceramides. The fetal stratum corneum-enriched samples contain reduced proportions of all glucosylceramides and acylceramides as compared to lamellar granule lipids. The possible functions of these sphingolipids in the assembly and structure of lamellar granules are discussed.

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