Membrane labeling of the cortex of 'aging' rats by anti-fatty acid antibodies.

The cortex of 'aging' rat brain exhibits no significant difference in the lipid and fatty acid composition in comparison with that of control rat brain, except for a lowered value of the cholesterol/phospholipids ratio. However, an antiserum raised against oleic acid, specifically labels neurones of the cortex of the 'aging' rat mainly within layers IV and V. An electron microscopical study revealed that immunoreactivity was associated with cytoplasmic vesicular inclusions (lipofuscin) and with membranes. Thus, these anti-fatty acid antibodies may help in the evaluation of local modifications of membranes which are not predictable on the basis of biochemical analysis of lipids.