Accumulation of lipoprotein pigments in nerve cells of British and Sri Lankan nationals

The lipofuscin and melanin contents of nerve cells were measured in 18 subjects, 9 of British Nationality, 9 of Sri Lankan, both groups being matched for age and sex. Lipofuscin content was apparently increased for age in the British group, though melanin content was unchanged. Nucleolar volume was unaltered in both groups for all cell types. It is suggested that the lipid portion of the lipofuscin granule is increased in the British cases, rather than the actual mass of pigment granules, and that this change in composition may be related to differences in diet, particularly in respect of the amount of polyunsaturated fat consumed by the two populations.