Alterations of the cerebroside fraction of human thyroid glycosphingolipids in Graves' disease.

The influence of Graves' disease in human thyroid neutral glycosphingolipids was investigated. The major alteration was in the cerebroside fraction. Although the total amount of cerebroside was not different, the relative proportion of the bands of glucosylceramide separated on borated thin-layer plates was greatly modified in the disease. The band of glucosylceramide containing phytosphingosine and hydroxylated fatty acids decreased strongly, whereas the band with C18 sphingosine and normal fatty acids increased simultaneously. No change was observed in the content of galabiosylceramide. A slight elevation was seen in the amount of globoside at the expense of globotriaosylceramide.