Changes in fatty acid composition in myelin lipids after 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic butyl ester treatment.

Previous studies have shown that 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic butyl ester (2,4-D b.e.) causes hypomyelination in chicks born from eggs externally treated and alters the myelin chemical composition. In this paper the effect of 2,4-D b.e. on myelin phospholipid and fatty acid composition has been examined. The results of our investigations show significant variations in the phospholipid composition, with the phosphatidyl inositol content increased and sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl ethanolamine contents diminished. The fatty acid pattern of the individual myelin lipids is also significantly altered, with an important reduction of long chain fatty acids and an increase of saturated fatty acids. The observed changes in the chemical composition implicate alterations in the intrinsic properties of this membrane.