The distribution of sulphur compounds in brain tissue

Abstract

The distribution of sulphur expressed in per cent, of total among the various chemical groups of the whole brain is approximately as follows: (1) Proteins, 60 per cent.; (2) lipoids, 26 per cent.; (3) water, soluble extractions or neutral sulphur compounds, 9 per cent.; (4) sulphates, 5 per cent. (Total sulphur in per cent. of dry matter is from 0.45 to 0.5.)

Sulphur occurs in the following five stages of oxydation: (1) Cystein R—S—H, (2) cystin R—S—S—R, (3) sulphonate or taurin-like R—SO₂—OH, (4) ethereal (RO)₂SO₂, (5) sulphates.

Taking the various groups of chemical constituents, the following stages of oxydation of sulphur have been found in each: Protein — (1) cystein, (2) cystin, (3) ethereal; lipoids — (4) ethereal. Water soluble extractives (1 or 2 or both) most likely cystein, (3) sulphonate or taurin-like.