Some science behind the scenes
Lipids and the brain
The brain itself has a relatively high lipid content, but the actual content varies a lot between the different anatomic structures or organs. In the chart below we can see the different lipid contents of each brain structure.
If we look at this chart, the hypothalamus, the corpus callosum and the reticular formation are the three organs along with the internal capsule that have the highest lipid content.
|
Regional circulation and lipid content of the brain |
||
|
|
Per cent lipid* |
Blood flow+ (ml / g/ min) |
|
Hypothalmus |
31.6 |
0,84 |
|
Corpus callosum |
22.9 |
- |
|
Reticular formation |
22.8 |
0.59 |
|
Internal capsule |
22.1 |
- |
|
External geniculate body |
17.6 |
1.21 |
|
Superior colliculus |
17.2 |
1.15 |
|
Internal geniculate body |
17.0 |
1.22 |
|
Internal colliculus |
16.4 |
1.80 |
|
Thallamus |
14.3 |
1.03 |
|
Cerebellum |
13.2 |
0.57 |
|
Visual cortex |
12.5 |
1.25 |
|
Parietal en temporal cortex |
12.0 |
1.8 |
|
Auditory cortex |
10.9 |
1.3 |
|
Hippocampus |
10.8 |
0.61 |
|
Amygdala |
10.6 |
0.75 |
|
Caudate nucleus |
9.0 |
1.10 |
|
Optic tract |
- |
0.27 |
|
Pyramid |
- |
0.26 |
Initially the circulation sends substances to ‘grey matter’, but then the high lipid content of organs with fibre bundles causes a shift to the organs shown at the top of the list above.
Lipid retaining organs attract lipids, so an excess of lipids may well cause the lipid content of the four organs shown to exceed what might be termed ‘normal’.
This may then act as a trigger and the functions of these organs are then invoked….