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Five ganglioside fractions from bovine adrenal medulla were analyzed with respect to their fatty acid and long chain base compositions. The five fractions included two hematosides and three hexasamine‐containing species, the latter having chromatographic properties comparable to the major gangliosides of brain. The fatty acid compositions of all five were similar: 22∶0 was the most abundant, but significant amounts of 16∶0, 18∶0, 24∶0 and 24∶1 were also present. No hydroxy fatty acids were detected. The principal long chain base in each fraction was 4‐sphingenine (sphingosine), with lesser amounts of the C16 and C17 homologues. Minor quantities of the corresponding saturated bases were also detected. These were identified by two gas liquid chromatography methods: (a) trimethylsilyl ether derivatives, (b) aldehydes formed by periodate oxidation of the long chain bases. No 4‐eicosasphingenine (C20‐sphingosine), characteristic of brain gangliosides, was found in any of the fractions. The results demonstrate that gangliosides of the adrenal medulla show tissue specificity in fatty acid and long chain base composition which is independent of carbohydrate structure.

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