Proton nuclear magnetic resonance lipid profiling of intact platelet membranes

A combination of high-resolution one-dimensional and two-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods and high pressure liquid chromatography have been used to analyse qualitatively and quantitatively the phospholipids, cholesterol and fatty acid composition of normal human blood platelets. The major phospholipids present were identified and quantified. Information on the nature and composition of the different classes of structural phospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids was obtained and was similar to that reported by others using different analytical procedures. This work showed that the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy approach to lipid analysis could provide rapid, comprehensive and detailed information on the roles of lipids in pathological conditions in which platelets have been implicated.