Methods for the rapid separation and estimation of the major lipids of arteries and other tissues by thin-layer chromatography on small plates followed by microchemical assays.

Methods are described for the rapid separation of the major individual phospholipids and neutral lipids of tissues by thin-layer chromatography on small glass plates (75 X 75 mm), and for the specific microchemical estimation of separated lipids and for determination of fatty acid composition and radioactivity. The overall method, involving tissues extraction, thin-layer chromatographic separation and assay has been evaluated using pure standards and biological samples and gives good reproducibility and almost complete recovery of lipids.