Lipid content of human platelets quantitated by thin-layer chromatography in combination with flame ionization...

The lipid contents of human platelets from twenty-one healthy adults were analysed using thin-layer chromatography in combination with flame ionization detection. The weight per cent of neutral lipids in human platelets was 14.6%, which consisted mainly of free cholesterol, that of phosphatidylethanolamine 24.9%, phosphatidylserine plus phosphatidylinositol 6.8%, phosphatidylcholine 35.2% and sphingomyelin 18.6%. Free cholesterol in 10(8) platelets was estimated as 7 micrograms and phospholipids as 46 micrograms from calibration standards. The reproducibility was satisfactory and the procedure could be performed quickly and simply.