title: Temperature alters ethanol-induced fluidization of C57 mouse brain membranes.
abstract: The interaction between temperature and ethanol-induced fluidization was investigated in brain synaptic plasma membranes from C57BL/6 mice. Changes in fluidity were measured using the fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. Fluorescence polarization was tested in the presence and absence of ethanol at 25, 32 and 37 degrees C. An increase in temperature resulted in a significant increase in the baseline fluidity of the membranes and an increase in the magnitude of ethanol-induced fluidization of brain membranes. The combined effect of temperature on baseline fluidity and the magnitude of the response to ethanol resulted in a significant temperature-related increase in the relative response to ethanol (% change in polarization). The minimum concentration of ethanol required to cause a significant increase in the fluidity of the membranes was 170.7 mM at 25 degrees C and 85.3 mM at both 32 and 37 degrees C. The present results indicate that temperature-related changes in the effects of ethanol on membrane properties may underlie the effects of temperature on ethanol sensitivity in C57 mice.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Brain Research Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bejanian
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Alkana
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: von Hungen
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Syapin
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D004161:Diphenylhexatriene; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004161:Diphenylhexatriene; D000431:Ethanol