Glycolipids and other lipid constituents of normal human liver.

An analysis of the lipids in normal human liver is presented which is particularly designed to assist in the classification and study of lipid-storage diseases. Special emphasis has been given to a determination of the quantity and composition of the neutral glycolipid classes and predominant ganglioside (Gm(3)). The neutral glycolipid content of 0.19 (sd +/- 0.11) micro moles per g wet tissue, represented 0.4% of the total lipid in liver. Ceramide dihexoside was the most abundant neutral glycolipid. The mean contents of cholesterol, glycerides, and total phospholipids were 3.9, 19.5, and 25.1 mg/g wet weight, respectively. The relative amounts of seven different phospholipid classes were also determined; these included cardiolipin (diphosphatidylglycerol), which constituted 3.9% of the liver phospholipids.