Biomaterial Database

Changes in lipid phase behaviour in human myelin during maturation and aging. Involvement of lipid peroxidation. 1983

L S Chia, and J E Thompson, and M A Moscarello

The biophysical properties of human myelin isolated from white matter of patients aged two months to 74 years were investigated using wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The myelin transition temperature increased from 13 degrees C to 65 degrees C as age increased from two months to 17 years, demonstrating an increase in the myelin lipid stability. Following this maturation period, the myelin transition temperature remained constant at 65 degrees C until age 50. Beyond age 50, the transition temperature of myelin decreased by 13 degrees C indicating that myelin stability decreased with aging. During this aging period, the levels of malondialdehyde and conjugated diene increased, indicating an increasing amount of lipid peroxidation. Although evidence is indirect, the results of this investigation strongly suggest that free radicals could be a primary factor in the acceleration of the aging processes in the human brain.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008054	Lipid Peroxides	Peroxides produced in the presence of a free radical by the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the cell in the presence of molecular oxygen. The formation of lipid peroxides results in the destruction of the original lipid leading to the loss of integrity of the membranes. They therefore cause a variety of toxic effects in vivo and their formation is considered a pathological process in biological systems. Their formation can be inhibited by antioxidants, such as vitamin E, structural separation or low oxygen tension.	Fatty Acid Hydroperoxide,Lipid Peroxide,Lipoperoxide,Fatty Acid Hydroperoxides,Lipid Hydroperoxide,Lipoperoxides,Acid Hydroperoxide, Fatty,Acid Hydroperoxides, Fatty,Hydroperoxide, Fatty Acid,Hydroperoxide, Lipid,Hydroperoxides, Fatty Acid,Peroxide, Lipid,Peroxides, Lipid
D008315	Malondialdehyde	The dialdehyde of malonic acid.	Malonaldehyde,Propanedial,Malonylaldehyde,Malonyldialdehyde,Sodium Malondialdehyde,Malondialdehyde, Sodium
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009186	Myelin Sheath	The lipid-rich sheath surrounding AXONS in both the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS and PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The myelin sheath is an electrical insulator and allows faster and more energetically efficient conduction of impulses. The sheath is formed by the cell membranes of glial cells (SCHWANN CELLS in the peripheral and OLIGODENDROGLIA in the central nervous system). Deterioration of the sheath in DEMYELINATING DISEASES is a serious clinical problem.	Myelin,Myelin Sheaths,Sheath, Myelin,Sheaths, Myelin
D010084	Oxidation-Reduction	A chemical reaction in which an electron is transferred from one molecule to another. The electron-donating molecule is the reducing agent or reductant; the electron-accepting molecule is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Reducing and oxidizing agents function as conjugate reductant-oxidant pairs or redox pairs (Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 1982, p471).	Redox,Oxidation Reduction
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths