Canine kidney cells: III. Neutral lipids, phospholipids and fatty acids of primary canine kidney cells in monolayer culture.

Neutral lipids, phospholipids and fatty acids were studied in monolayer grown primary canine kidney whole cells and their plasma membranes which were isolated by the Warren fluorescein-mercuric acetate technique. Triglyceride and unesterified cholesterol were the predominant neutral lipids of whole cells, while cholesterol ester, free fatty acid, and unesterified cholesterol were the major neutral lipids of plasma membranes. The total neutral lipid value is about 2-fold greater in plasma membranes than in whole cells. Phosphatidyl ethanolamine and physophatidyl choline are the major phospholipids of whole cells and plasma membranes. The total phospholipid value is almost 1.8-fold greater in plasma membranes than in whole cells. The fatty acid profiles of both whole cells and plasma membranes differ from that of calf serum used in the growth medium. The amount of unsaturated fatty acids is considerably lower while the amount of saturated fatty acids is higher than the corresponding values obtained in calf serum.