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Title: On the sensitivity of intact cells to perturbation by ethanol

Journal Article · · Life Sciences; (USA)
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stony Brook, NY (USA)
  2. Psychiatry Service, Northport, NY (USA)

A comparison was made of ethanol's effects on the order of plasma membranes in intact cells and some isolated membrane preparations. Order was assessed by steady-state fluorescence polarization techniques using the non-permeant probe, TMA-DPH. The data show that two cultured cells, rat neonatal astroglial and N2A neuroblastoma, were sensitive to significant ethanol-induced disordering within the anesthetically relevant range. Human erythrocytes, cultured fibroblasts and homogenized astroglial cells required higher ethanol concentrations to produce a similar effect. Intact erythrocytes were approximately twice as sensitive as erythrocyte ghost membranes to ethanol induced perturbation. The neonatal glial and N2A cells were approximately five times more sensitive than synaptic membranes to ethanol effects. DMPC and DMPC + cholesterol liposomes and myelin membranes were insensitive to ethanol's effects. The incorporation of 10 mole % ganglioside GM{sub 1} sensitized the liposomes to ethanol-induced perturbation.

OSTI ID:
6853096
Journal Information:
Life Sciences; (USA), Vol. 45:26; ISSN 0024-3205
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English