Analysis of fatty acid and alcoholic components of sebaceous lipid types.

Lipids were extracted from hair, scalp wipings, ovarian dermoid cysts, and vernix caseosa and submitted to alkaline hydrolysis. Alumina chromatography applied to the unsaponifiable portions allowed for the separation of hydrocarbons, alcohols, and sterols. The fatty acids from the saponifiable mixtures were converted to the methyl esters and analyzed by gas chromatography in conjunction with mass spectrometry. This technique permitted the identification of the even, odd, iso, and anteiso fatty acid levels of the various pools. Analysis of the alcohols was afforded by gas chromatography of the acetates. Ratios were determined among the acidic and alcoholic components of each lipid class and the alcoholic constituents of each pool appeared to be increased by two C2-fragments over the average carbon number of the corresponding acid fraction. Branched components ranged higher in all alcohol mixtures as compared to the respective acids and thus, indicative of a specificity for the synthesis of a specificity for the synthesis of alcohols.