ESTIMATION OF CHOLESTEROL SULFATE IN BLOOD-PLASMA AND IN ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANES FROM INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME OR DIABETES-MELLITUS TYPE-I

Objectives: Plasma and erythrocyte membrane cholesterol sulphate (CS) were measured in patients suffering from diabetes and Down's syndrome. Design and Methods: The procedure for separation and determination of CS comprised HPTLC (high-performance thin-layer chromatography) and d ensitometry. Results: The mean plasma and RBC membranes CS concentrati ons (+/- SD) of the control group (n = 16) was 188 +/- 47 mu g/dL and 343 +/- 57 mu g/10(12) RBC, respectively. In 15 patients with diabetes and 12 Down's syndrome patients substantially higher CS levels were f ound (diabetes: plasma-348 +/- 60 mu g/dL; RBC membranes-646 +/- 113 m u g/10(12) RBC; Down's syndrome: plasma-245 +/- 54 mu/dL; RBC membrane s 427 +/- 74 mu g/10(12) RBC). Analysis of variance and multiple compa rison (Newman-Keuls test) show statistically significant differences b etween all samples both for erythrocytes, F(2,41) = 52.24, p < 0.05, a nd plasma, F(2,41) = 34.92, p < 0.05. Conclusions: It is postulated th at differences in CS levels may contribute to changes of erythrocyte p roperties in these pathological states.