[Brain lipids of a mammoth, Elephas primigenius, which died more than 40,000 years ago]

Abstract

Studies have been made on the brain lipids of the 6--7-month mammoth which remained in the eternal ice for more than 40.000 years. Thin layer chromatography of chloroformmethanol extract of the brain lipids shows that all glycerophospholipids in the brain were destroyed. On the contrary, sphingophospholipid sphingomyelin yielded the evident spot which was identified by specific reactions and by comparison with sphingomyelin from the brain of rat. Sphingomyelin content was evaluated. Using gas-liquid chromatography, fatty acid composition of sphingomyelin was investigated. It was found to be close to that in contemporary mammals. Other shingolipids -- cerebrosides, sulfatides, gangliosides -- persisted (probably, only partially) and were studied quantitatively. Relative content of cerebrosides with normal fatty acids and hydrooxyacids was determined. Studies were also made on fatty acid composition of cerebrosides, sulfatides and gangliosides, as well as on the composition of spingosine bases of gangliosides. Free cholesterol was found in the brain of the mammoth. Other sterols were not detected. With respect to quantitative evaluation of the preserved lipids, it should be mentioned that on the one hand, the brain underwent dehydration which increased lipid content per a unit of "wet" weight, whereas on the other one lipids were partially degraded, this process decreasing their content.