PMID: 3771576Nov 15, 1986Paper

Glycosphingolipid patterns of the gastrointestinal tract and feces of germ-free and conventional rats.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
B E GustafssonJ Thurin

Abstract

Acid and non-acid glycosphingolipids of stomach, small and large intestine, and stimulated feces of germ-free and conventional rats of the same stain have been isolated and characterized. The glycosphingolipid patterns of the intestinal organs were chemically and immunologically very similar between the two groups of rats and relatively unaffected by the presence of an intestinal microbial flora. The major exception was the presence of hematoside with N-glycoloylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) (NeuGc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer) in the stomach of conventional rats not found in the stomach of germ-free animals. Glycosphingolipids of stimulated feces of germ-free animals were derived from epithelial cells mainly of the small intestine and showed no signs of degradation. Glycosphingolipids of feces of conventional rats completely retained the pattern of blood group A-, B-, and H-active glycolipids as found in sterile feces but contained less of hematoside and more of lactosylceramide. This effect was probably due to degradation by bacteria, as demonstrated in vitro with the production of lactosylceramide after treatment of the isolated acid glycolipids of sterile feces with neuraminidase from Clostridium perfringens. The...Continue Reading

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