The "apparent molecular weight" of myelin forms prepared from normal red cells and some of its variations.

Abstract

Some of the properties of myelin forms prepared by freezing, thawing, and homogenization of ghosts of human red cells are described, among these being the "apparent molecular weight" as found by light scattering, the effect of repeated freezing and thawing on the "apparent molecular weight," the quantity of fatty acids split off at various temperatures of freezing, the effect of the anticoagulant used, and the remarkable constancy in the "apparent molecular weight" met with when myelin forms are prepared from the ghosts of the red cells of normal people. Taken together, these observations lead to the description of a "standard technique" for the preparations of myelin forms; this technique can later be extended to the myelin forms obtained from animals other than man and also to those obtained from abnormal red cells.