Quantitative determination of lysolecithin and sphingomyelin in phospholipid mixtures by thin-layer chromatography as applied to the thymus of the fmfm mouse.

Lysolecithin and sphingomyelin may be readily separated from other phospholipids on thin-layer plates impregnated with silver nitrate using the solvent system chloroform-methanol-concentrated ammonium hydroxide 65:35:8. Quantitation is carried out by determining the phosphorus content of the developed bands. The minimum amount of phospholipid that can be quantitatively determined is that which contains 0.7 micro g of phosphorus. This method has been used for the determination of lysolecithin and sphingomyelin in the tissues of mice having foam-cell reticulosis.