title: Membrane fluidity of guinea pig lymphocytes and the dysfunction of the respiratory airway and lymphocyte beta-adrenergic systems of the guinea pig.
abstract: The beta-adrenergic receptor responsiveness of isolated guinea pig tracheal spirals can be negatively affected by intraperitoneal administration of the Gram-negative bacterium Haemophilus influenzae, four days prior to the experiment. The reduction in tracheal relaxation is accompanied by a decrease in beta-adrenergic receptor binding sites in splenic lymphocyte membranes and by a decrease in the fluidity of these membranes. The H. influenzae-induced dysfunction of both the respiratory airway and lymphocyte beta-adrenergic systems can be mimicked by modulating the amount of linoleic acid in the diet. This linoleic acid induced dysfunction of the beta-adrenergic system is also accompanied by a decrease in the plasma membrane fluidity of the splenic lymphocyte membranes of the guinea pigs. The role for plasma membrane fluidity in asthma is discussed in relation to current concepts for atopy.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Veterinary Pharmacology, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loesberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: v d Stelt
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hooyman
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hensen
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Nijkamp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D007114:Immunization; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D011897:Random Allocation; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D007545:Isoproterenol