Glycolipids of Gaueher's spleens (three cases) were examined for their content and chemical characterization, comparing with normal control.
Apparent accumulation of glucocerebroside was found in all cases.
In a case, however, a faster-moving glycolipid fraction than cerebroside on a thin-layer chromatogram, traces of which were detected also in other cases and normal control, was found in a certain amount. From this fraction, a fatty acid ester of glucocerebroside was isolated. Two-thirds of fatty acid of this fraction were composed of the acids below C₂₀.
Hematoside which increased in a certain extent, had the same chemical structure, N-acetylneuraminoyl-(2→3)-galactosyl-(1→4)-glucosyl-ceramide, as that of normal human spleen.
Other glycolipids separated from Gaucher's spleens showed no significant variation in amounts and were all identical in chemical character with those found already in normal spleen.