Growth and development in different regions of human fetal brain: changes in protein and lipids
Janardana Sarma, M.K.; Subba Rao, K.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 64(1): 154-161
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 1270096 Document Number: 96303
The changes in protein and lipid content in different regions of developing human fetal brain were studied. The total lipid fraction, in all cases, was further analyzed for its cholesterol, glycolipid and phospholipid contents. Three distinct phases marked by different rates of increase in proteins and lipids were observed. While the increase in these constituents occurred at a considerable rate up to 22 wk and after 33 wk of gestation, the period between 22-33 wk was characterized by a relatively slow accumulation of both proteins and total lipids. The increment curves for cholesterol and glycolipids showed a pattern different from that for total lipids. Very low amounts of glycolipid could be found until the 35th wk of intra-uterine life but from then onwards, the rate of increase in glycolipid content was very high. The changes in the ratio of protein to DNA showed considerable fluctuations throughout the gestation suggesting that hyperplasia and hypertrophy occurred at alternating higher rates during intra-uterine development of human brain.