Analysis of the non-ionic detergent-soluble lipids of human stratum corneum

Mechanical stimulation of the skin surface in the presence of non-ionic detergent (Triton X-100)-containing buffers has been used to prepare isolated corneocytes and non-ionic detergent-soluble (NIDS) material from human stratum corneum. Analysis of the major lipid classes present in the corneocytes and NIDS material has been performed by thin layer chromatography with flame ionization detection and quantitation based on the introduction of an internal standard. Results indicate that the NIDS lipid represents a disproportionately large amount of the total stratum corneum lipid and that it differs in composition from the corneocyte lipid, there being a greater proportion of the cholesteryl ester fraction in the corneocytes. Both these findings support the 'brick wall' model of the stratum corneum and provide further evidence that the NIDS material is intercellular in nature.