Alterations in lipid composition and fluidity of liver plasma membranes in copper-deficient rats

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-188-42743· OSTI ID:5026176

Lei, K Y; Rosenstein, F; Shi, F; Hassel, C A; Carr, T P; Zhang, J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson (USA)

In view of the importance of membrane fluidity on cell functions, the influence of phospholipid acyl groups on membrane fluidity, and the changes in lipid metabolism induced by copper (Cu) deficiency, this study was designed to examine the influence of dietary Cu on the lipid composition and fluidity of liver plasma membranes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two dietary treatments, namely Cu deficient and Cu adequate. After 8 weeks of treatment, liver plasma membranes were isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The lipid fluidity of plasma membranes, as assessed by the intramolecular eximer fluorescence of 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl) propane, was significantly depressed by Cu deficiency. In addition, Cu deficiency significantly reduced the content of arachidonic and palmitoleic acids but increased the docosatetraenoic acids of membrane phospholipids. This alteration in unsaturated phospholipid fatty acid composition, especially the large reduction in arachidonic acid, may have contributed to the depressed membrane fluidity. Furthermore, Cu deficiency also markedly altered the fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerols associated with the plasma membranes. Thus, the lipid composition and fluidity of liver plasma membranes are responsive to the animal's Cu status.

• OSTI ID: 5026176
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine; (USA), Vol. 188:3; ISSN 0037-9727
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CELL MEMBRANES
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
COPPER
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
LIPIDS
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
RATS
ANIMALS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
ELEMENTS
MAMMALS
MEMBRANES
METALS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RODENTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology