title: Unusual lipid composition of erythrocytes from the insectivorous bat Molossus molossus.
abstract: The lipid composition of washed erythrocytes from Molossus molossus and Molossus ater were studied. In comparison with other mammalian species, bat erythrocytes were characterized by very high cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratios, as well as by low sphingomyelin content. The lipid composition of bat erythrocytes was similar to that of patients suffering from lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency, but the physiological significance of this in bats is unknown.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Gillett
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007863:Lecithin Cholesterol Acyltransferase Deficiency / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D002784:Cholesterol