LIPIDS OF HAMSTER-CHEEK POUCH EPITHELIUM

The hamster cheek pouch is a much used bur incompletely understood exp erimental model. In particular, the cheek pouch epithelial lipids, whi ch are important for permeability barrier function as well as other as pects of epithelial biology, have not been completely characterized. I n the present study, the complete lipid class composition has been det ermined by thin-layer chromatography in conjunction with photodensitom etry. The major lipid classes were phospholipids, free sterols, and ce ramides. Minor amounts of monohexosylceramides, sterol esters, fatty a cids, and triglycerides were also present. Significant amounts of cova lently bound omega-hydroxyceramide was also detected. Transmission ele ctron micrographs reveal extensive, largely paired, lipid bilayers in the intercellular spaces of the stratum corneum.