Evans, John E.2022-07-072022-07-07196617970566https://hdl.handle.net/10657/10418The lipids of the embryonic chick lens were analyzed by a combination of chromatographic techniques. These techniques included silicic acid column chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and thin-layer adsorption chromatography (TLC). The freshly extracted lenticular lipids were first separated into neutral and polar fractions using silicic acid column chromatography. These major lipid fractions were further separated into their respective lipid classes by gradient elution from silicic acid columns. The isolated lipid classes were quantitated, monitored by TLC and fatty acids determined by GLC. Application of these chromatographic techniques separated the embryonic lenticular lipids into free and esterified cholesterol, glycerides, cephalin, lecithin and sphingomyelin. These lipid components were found to accumulate during lenticular development with the individual classes displaying characteristic accumulation patterns. The neutral lipids were found to exhibit an irregular distribution pattern which is interpreted to indicate a predominate metabolic role for these compounds. In contrast, the phospholipids showed a regular distribution pattern which indicated a structural role in the embryonic lens. Fatty acids, as determined by GLC, were found to exhibit a highly diversified accumulation pattern with both saturated and unsaturated acids occurring in all stages of embryonic development. Individual fatty acids, including palmitic, oleic, stearic, were found to vary in their relative amounts depending on the developmental state of the embryo.application/pdfenThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.Thesisreformatted digital