Chemical composition of the spinal cord in the normal developing fetus and in the premature foal
Sweasey, D.; Patterson, D.S.; Leadon, D.P.
Journal of reproduction and fertility. Supplement 32: 563-567
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0449-3087 PMID: 6962895 Document Number: 193496
The lipid content of spinal cord, expressed as a percentage of adult values, was considerably higher for newborn foals than for several other species and traces of esterified cholesterol (type A) were only rarely present in horse fetal cord (from 270 days gestational age onwards). This suggested that, at birth, the spinal cord is neurochemically more 'mature' in the horse than in cattle, sheep and pigs. Data for premature foals revealed no lipid abnormality suggestive of myelin immaturity or degeneration.