title: Physico-chemical membrane alterations during ethanol intoxication.
abstract: The physical state of the synaptic membranes from chronically intoxicated rats was evaluated by determination of "fluidity" parameters. The fluorescence polarizations of DPH and TMA-DPH were used to measure membrane fluidity and sensitivity to ethanol. During the ethanol intoxication, all the animals developed tolerance, and the sensitivities to ethanol in the apolar part as well as in the polar part of the membrane were reduced concurrently with a decreased partitioning of ethanol and changes in the membrane surface glycans. Only some of the animals displayed dependence as well as reduced basal fluidity of the apolar membrane region. Alterations in membrane order and sensitivity to ethanol were similar in erythrocyte membranes and correlated with synaptic alterations. Erythrocyte ghosts from alcoholic patients showed the same pattern of alterations. In this study, two distinct and differentiated disturbances in the physical state of the neuronal and erythrocyte membranes in association with tolerance to or dependence on ethanol were evident. The possible modulation of these membrane correlates could be a basis for therapeutic prospects in alcoholism.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U26, Hôpitál F. Widal, Paris, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beaugé
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol