The role of dietary lactose in the synthesis of brain galactolipids

Abstract

The effect of galactose deprivation on glycolipid synthesis has been studied in newborn kittens. The ability of the kitten brain to synthesize both cerebrosides and gangliosides from non-galactose sources was demonstrated. The galactolipid content of galactosaemic and normal human brains was compared. The galactosaemic brain has been shown to contain normal amounts of lipid-bound galactose, in spite of its inability to utilize free galactose. It is concluded that neither the kitten nor the human brain requires preformed galactose for the synthesis of galactolipids. A method has been described for the separate determination of lipid-bound galactose and glucose.