Two pools of cholesterol in acetylcholine receptor-rich membranes from Torpedo.

The acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-containing electroplax membranes from Torpedo californica have a relatively high cholesterol content. Reconstitution studies suggest that this cholesterol may be important in preserving or modulating the function of the acetylcholine receptor-channel complex. We have manipulated cholesterol levels in intact Torpedo AChR-rich membrane fragments using small, unilamellar phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Conditions have been established that allow further subfractionation of sucrose gradient purified Torpedo electroplax membranes into AChR-rich and ATPase-rich populations and that, at the same time, achieve cholesterol depletion without phospholipid back exchange or fusion. The incubation of membranes with excess liposomes could only achieve about a 50% reduction in the molar ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid. In no case was the number of cholesterol molecules per AChR oligomer reduced below 36. The remaining cholesterol could not be depleted either by longer incubations or by multiple, sequential depletions. Cholesterol depletion was accompanied by a significant increase in bulk membrane fluidity as measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, but the equilibrium binding parameters of acetylcholine to its receptor were unaltered. This suggests strongly that there exist two pools of cholesterol in the AChR-rich Torpedo electroplax membrane: an easily depleted fraction that influences bulk fluidity, and a tightly-bound fraction perhaps surrounding the AChR oligomer.

Ascitic fluid cephalosporin concentrations: influence of protein binding and serum pharmacokinetics.

Mongrel dogs with ascites created by inferior vena cava ligation were given cephalothin, cephaloridine, cefazolin, and cefamandole to evaluate the effect of protein binding and serum pharmacokinetics on the distribution of cephalosporins into ascitic fluid. Antibiotics were given intramuscularly (15 mg/kg) every 4 h for a total of eight doses. Antibiotic binding to dog serum and ascitic fluid was measured by ultracentrifugation. Binding of the cephalosporins to dog serum ranged from 31% for cephaloridine to 46% for cephalothin, considerably lower than human serum binding for cefazolin, cephalothin, and cefamandole. Antibiotic binding to ascitic fluid was only slightly lower than that to serum. Ascitic fluid antibiotic concentrations, which approached equilibrium at 16 to 28 h, were significantly higher for cefazolin and cephaloridine than for cephalothin and cefamandole. However, serum concentrations were also higher for cefazolin and cephaloridine, and percent penetration (ratio of serum peak to ascites peak x 100) was not statistically different among the four drugs. Binding of these cephalosporins to extravascular fluid protein was an important factor that determined the total ascitic fluid antibiotic level achieved. A formula utilizing the log mean serum level and binding to serum and extravascular fluid protein was used to accurately predict ascitic fluid drug levels at equilibrium.