Estimation of lipid concentrations on thin-layer plates by densitometry of transparent copies

A relatively simple procedure for the quantitative estimation of phospholipids resolved on thin-layer plates has been developed. After resolution in an appropriate solvent, the lipids are visualized by staining with iodine, ninhydrin, or molybdate and then photocopied onto transparent sheets with a standard office copy machine. The density of each spot on the photocopy, measured with a simple silicon cell area densitometer, is a direct function of each lipid applied to the plate over at least a six- to eightfold range in concentration. Under controlled conditions the staining and photocopying steps are quite reproducible. Known concentrations of the choline, ethanolamine, serine, and inositol derivatives of L-alpha-phosphatidic acid applied either separately or as mixtures can be determined essentially quantitatively (100 +/- 5%) by this procedure following their resolution on the thin-layer plates.