ABSTRACT
The discovery that intact Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein is present in platelet granules, has created a great interest in the biochemistry, physiology and function of platelets of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). In this study we monitored various biochemical and physiological parameters, such as serotonin and adenine nucleotide levels, membrane fluidity, agonist-mediated release of arachidonic acid, thromboxane formation, calcium mobilization, as well as irreversible aggregation and secretion of granule contents. Platelets of patients with AD responded poorly when stirred with weak or potent agonists on a platelet aggregometer. Although capable of agonist-mediated calcium mobilization and synthesis of thromboxanes, the aggregation response of platelets of patients with AD to thrombin and archidonate was considerably compromised. In view of the normal biochemistry and signal transduction capabilities, the compromised response of these cells to potent agonists like thrombin suggested an extrinsic defect. The present study has shown that a plasmatic factor is at least in part responsible for the functional abnormalities of AD platelets.
Subject(s)
Adenine Nucleotides/blood , Adult , Aged , Alzheimer Disease/blood , Arachidonic Acid/blood , Blood Platelets/chemistry , Calcium/blood , Cytoplasmic Granules/drug effects , Female , Humans , Male , Membrane Fluidity/physiology , Middle Aged , Platelet Aggregation/drug effects , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/pharmacology , Platelet Function Tests , Serotonin/blood , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/pharmacology , Signal Transduction/physiology , Thrombin/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from various regions of monkey small intestine were compared for lipid composition, membrane fluidity and sodium-dependent D-glucose transport. Total phospholipid content was same in all regions whereas cholesterol content was high in duodenum and jejunum as compared to ileum resulting in higher cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratios. Regional differences in individual phospholipid subclasses and fatty acids in total lipids were also observed. Fluidity measurements showed that the membranes of duodenum and jejunum were less fluid than ileum. The change in BBMV fluidity appears to be due to alteration in cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and phospholipid composition. The sodium dependent D-glucose uptake was more in duodenum and jejunum as compared to ileum. These results suggest that there is a regional difference in the lipid composition and fluidity of BBMV in monkey small intestine which may influence their function.
Subject(s)
Animals , Intestine, Small/chemistry , Lipids/analysis , Macaca radiata , Membrane Fluidity/physiology , Microvilli/physiologyABSTRACT
El etanol al igual que otros alcoholes puede actuar en las membranas biológicas fundamentalmente de 3 formas: 1). alterando la fluidez de las membranas, lo que indirectamente afectaría el funcionamiento de las proteínas como enzimas y canales;2)produciendo una deshidratación a nivel de las membranas;3)interactuando directamente con las proteínas de la membrana. Los efectos del etanol en las membranas biológicas podrían explicar en parte, los efectos generalizados del etanol
Subject(s)
Cell Membrane/physiology , Ethanol/adverse effects , Membrane Fluidity/physiology , Membranes/drug effects , Alcoholism/physiopathology , Protein Synthesis InhibitorsABSTRACT
El efecto del envejecimiento sobre la composición fosfolipídica de la membrana hepática fue estudiada en dos grupos de ratas Wistar jóvenes (2 meses) y maduros (6 meses). Cuando fue analizado el contenido fosfolipídico microsomal total, el grupo de ratas maduras mostró un incremento significativo (73%). El patrón fosfolipídico microsomal también mostró un comportamiento diferente en ambos grupos, con un significativo incremento en fosfatidilcolina (62%), fosfatidilserina (124%), fosfatidilinositol (31%) y esfingomielina (10%) y aparente en fosfatidiletanolemina y fosfatidilglicerol en el grupo de 6 meses. Una elevada fluidificación de la membrana microsomal en animales añosos fue relevado por un incremento en el índice PC/EM (47%). Este incremento en la fluidificación durante el proceso de envejecimiento puede reflejar una respuesta adaptativa resultante en cambio en la actividad enzimática responsable del metabolismo de drogas y carcinógenos
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Aging/physiology , Membrane Fluidity/physiology , Microsomes, Liver/physiology , Phospholipids/chemistry , Body Weight , Microsomes, Liver/chemistry , Organ Size , Rats, Inbred StrainsABSTRACT
Modifications in the transport of relevant permeants to their respective sites of action due to the liquid membranes formed by prostaglandins in association with lecithin and cholesterol have been discussed in the light of biological actions of prostaglandins. It has been shown that the phenomenon of liquid membrane formation is likely to make a significant contribution to the biological actions.