Postnatal maturation of rat intestinal membrane: lipid composition and fluidity.
1. We studied the lipid composition and the fluidity of small intestine brush border membrane (BBM) of rats of different age: 'very young' (5-7 weeks old), 'young' (9 weeks old), 'adult' (30 weeks old) and 'old' (85 weeks old). 2. Fluorescence anisotropy, as assessed by 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene probe (DPH), was increased from very young to adult rats. 3. In agreement with these results the lipid composition in adult animals showed a lower lipid/protein ratio (derived mainly from a lower content of total polar lipids) and an increase of cholesterol esters and sphingomyelin (SM) saturation index. 4. A marked decrease of the order parameter was observed in the 'old' group, accompanied by a decreased cholesterol/phospholipid ratio. 5. The percentage distribution of membrane phospholipids significantly changed during development, but the modifications were not correlated with the anisotropy of DPH.
Omodeo-Salé
F
F
Institute of General Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Milano, Italy.
Lindi
C
C
Marciani
P
P
Cavatorta
P
P
Sartor
G
G
Masotti
L
L
Esposito
G
G
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D007583:Jejunum / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008871:Microvilli / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D008563:Membrane Lipids