Phospholipid metabolism in nervous tissue. 1. A reconsideration of brain and peripheral nerve phospholipid metabolism in vivo

Abstract

The fate of injected p32 has been followed in the phospholipids of the brain, sciatic nerve and other tissues of developing rats for a period of 70 days. The degree of stability of the phospholipids as a whole in both central and peripheral nervous tissue contrasts markedly with their more rapid turnover in other tissues. The relative stability demonstrated in vivo is discussed in the light of currently conflicting views of phospholipid turnover in brain. Some aspects of the blood-brain barrier for P have been reconsidered. The stability of these phospholipids, together with the stability of other brain lipids previously reported, may reflect their structural role in the myelin sheath.