Sphinganine in sphingomyelins of tumors and mouse regenerating liver

Contents of sphingenine (sphingosine) and sphinganine were studied in sphin gomyelins of transplantable mouse tumors (hepatoma-22, melanoma B16, Lewis lung carcinoma, intestine carcinoma) and rat nephroma RA. The content of sp hinganine was increased in sphingomyelins of hepatoma-22 and nephroma RA co mpared to sphingomyelins of liver and kidneys. Significant contents of sphi nganine were also found in sphingomyelins of other studied tumors. The cont ent of sphinganine in regenerating mouse liver (30 h after hepatectomy) was normal. The data suggest that disorders should exist in biosynthesis of sp hingoid bases in tumors but not in normal rapidly proliferating tissue.