Effects of palmitic acid and cholesterol on proton transport across black lipid membranes.

We studied the effect of palmitic acid (PA) and cholesterol (approximately 17 wt.%) on proton translocation across asolectin (charged) and diphytanoylphosphatidylcholine (DPhPC, neutral) black lipid membranes (BLMs). Potential difference (PD), short circuit current (SCC), and conductance (G(total)) were measured with a digital electrometer. Membranes were exposed to pH gradients (0.4-2.0 units), followed by PA addition to bath (symmetrically, 40-65 microM). The membrane conductive pathway was subdivided into an unspecific and a proton-related routes. A computer program estimated the conductances (G(un) and G(H)) of the two pathways from the measured parameters. No significant differences in proton selectivity were found between DPhPC membranes and DPhPC/cholesterol membranes. By contrast, cholesterol incorporation into asolectin increases membranes selectivity to proton. Cholesterol dramatically reduced G(un) reflecting, probably, its ability of inducing order in lipid chains. In asolectin membranes, PA increases proton selectivity, probably by acting as a proton shuttle according to the model proposed by Kamp and et al. [Biochemistry 34 (1995) 11928]. Cholesterol incorporation into asolectin membranes eliminates the PA-induced increase in proton selectivity. In DPhPC and DPhPC/cholesterol membranes, PA does not affect proton selectivity. These results are discussed in terms of the presence of cardiolipin (CL) in asolectin, cholesterol/PA interactions, and cholesterol order-inducing effects on acyl-chains.

Fatty acid transport across lipid bilayer planar membranes.

The transport of palmitic acid (PA) across planar lipid bilayer membranes was measured using a high specific activity [14C]palmitate as tracer for PA. An all-glass trans chamber was employed in order to minimize adsorbance of PA onto the surface. Electrically neutral (diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine) and charged (Azolectin) planar bilayers were maintained at open electric circuit. We found a permeability to PA of (8.8 +/- 1.9) x 10(-6) cm s(-1) (n = 15) in neutral and of (10.3 +/- 2.2) x 10(-6) cm s(-1) (n = 5) in charged bilayers. These values fall within the order of magnitude of those calculated from desorption constants of PA in different vesicular systems. Differences between data obtained from planar and vesicular systems are discussed in terms of the role of solvent, radius of curvature, and pH changes.

Sorbitol accumulation in rats kept on diabetic condition for short and prolonged periods.

AIM: To study the influence of the course of diabetes, aging, and glycemia on the sorbitol accumulation in diabetic rats. METHODS: Streptozocin (Str) diabetic rats were obtained by Str i.v. (35 mg.kg-1). Glycemia and sorbitol levels from sciatic nerve and lens were measured after 1 d, 2, 5, and 8 months of diabetes. Sorbitol concentrations in serum, heart, diaphragm, small intestine, and kidney after 8 months of diabetes were measured. RESULTS: Diabetic rats after Str injection showed hyperglycemia (> 1.7 g.L-1), hyperphagia, polyuria, polydipsia, and loss of body weight. Sorbitol levels in lens and sciatic nerve increased in normal and diabetic rats; the increase was higher in diabetic rats. No relationship was shown between glycemia and sorbitol levels. An increased sorbitol level after 8 months of diabetes was found in small intestine and kidney. CONCLUSION: The sorbitol levels increased in lens and sciatic nerve with aging and this process was accelerated by diabetes.

Hepatic glucose production from L-alanine is absent in perfused liver of diabetic rats.

The effects of L-alanine on hepatic glucose production in diabetic rats and the corresponding controls was investigated. Diabetes was obtained with an injection iv of streptozotocin (STZ) or alloxan. Livers from diabetic and control rats after 24 hours of fasting were perfused in situ and glucose production from L-alanine and several gluconeogenic substrates were measured. Hepatic gluconeogenesis from L-alanine was absent in rats with diabetes induced by STZ or alloxan. STZ-diabetic rats also shown this metabolic change when the period of diabetes was prolonged. It was concluded that this effect may be partly at least, the consequence of an increased NADH/NAD+ ratio in the diabetic rat liver, which indicates that the cytosolic redox potential is favorable to pyruvate conversion to L-lactate but not to glucose. However, considering that glucose production from pyruvate, L-lactate, glycerol and sorbitol was not affected by the diabetic condition, the rate of conversion of L-alanine to pyruvate can contribute to the lack of gluconeogenesis when this amino acid was employed as a substrate.