FIGURE 3.

Effect of palmitic acid on the levels of different sphingolipids. HepG2 cells were cultured for 18 h in the presence of either 1 mm palmitic acid delivered as a BSA complex (2:1, mol/mol) or 0.5 mm BSA as a vehicle control. Total lipid extracts were prepared, and ceramide (A), SM (B), and Hex-Cer (C) species were measured by mass spectrometry. Data are shown as mean values ± S.D. (error bars) (n = 3 dishes/point). *, p < 0.05 according to Student's t test. Results were confirmed in two independent experiments.