Lipid composition of normal human bone marrow as determined by column chromatography*

Abstract

The composition of the lipids of normal human bone marrow has been determined. Marrows were obtained post-mortem from the femurs of 12 subjects ranging in age from 1 to 78 years. The total extractable lipid, which varied from 28% to 84% of the tissue wet weight, was composed primarily of neutral lipid. It contained less than 3% of phospholipid and no detectable carbohydrate. The neutral lipid consisted of 96% to 98% triglyceride and minor amounts of free cholesterol and free fatty acids. Fractions representative of hydrocarbons, cholesterol esters, diglycerides, and monoglycerides were not detected. The fatty acids of the triglyceride fraction were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. The predominant fatty acids were palmitic and oleic, which accounted for an average of 26% and 46%, respectively, of the total. Myristic, palmitoleic, stearic, and linoleic acids were also present but in smaller amounts.