Characterization of feline omentum lipids.

Feline omental lipid extracts, previously reported to be angiogenic in the cornea of rabbits, were fractionated and the major lipid components characterized. Approximately 97% of the chloroform/methanol extract consisted of triglycerides containing primarily 16:0, 18:0, 18:1 and 18:2 fatty acids. Trace quantities of free fatty acids, cholesterol, di- and monoglycerides were also detected. The phospholipid fraction, obtained by solvent partition and Unisil column chromatography and characterized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectrometry, was found to consist of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. The neutral glycolipids, isolated by solvent partition and Unisil column chromatography and identified by high performance thin layer chromatography and HPLC of their perbenzoylated derivatives, were found to consist of glucosyl- and galactosylceramides, galabiosylceramide, lactosylceramide, globotriaosylceramide and globotetraosylceramide. The complex glycolipid fraction, obtained from Folch upper phase solvent partition, was found to consist primarily of Forssman glycolipid and gangliosides GM3 and GD3. Smaller amounts of GM1 and other unidentified gangliosides were also present.