Identification by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry of 1‐Monoglycerides in European Hamster Brown Adipose Tissue and Plasma

In organ culture, brown adipose tissue of the hibernator, the European hamster, synthezises from [14C]acetate a compound which is secreted into the culture medium. 2. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of samples, extracted from brown adipose tissue and corresponding to that unknown radioactive compound, used as a marker, lead to the identification of the two major components as 1-monoglycerides: 1-monopalmitin and 1-monoolein. 3. The two 1-monoglycerides are also present in the blood plasma and are not of alimentary origin. 4. The problem of the significance of 1-monoglycerides in brown adipose tissue and plasma is discussed in connexion with the postulated indirect role of brown adipose tissue in thermogenic processes.