To the Editor.—The clinical and pathologic findings in a case of perinatal sudanophilic leukodystrophy were recently published.1 Since that time, the brain of that infant has been subject to analysis of its lipids. Although the definitive interpretation of these additional data must await further knowledge of the content and composition of both normal and diseased human cerebral tissue, it is hoped that this information will eventually help elucidate the pathogenesis of this disorder.
Formalin-fixed whole brain was extracted with chloroform-methanol.2 Lipid extracts were examined by thin-layer chromatography, using silica gel H. The solvent system for neutral lipids was petroleum ether-ethyl ether-acetic acid (82:18:1). Complex lipids were examined, using a solvent system composed of chloroform-methanol-water (70:30:4). Free fatty acid and steryl ester fractions were eluted from the silica gel with ethyl acetate and methylated with boron trifluoride-methanol.3 Fatty acid composition was examined on 10% DEGS on Celite