title: Effects of butylated hydroxytoluene on membrane lipid fluidity and freeze-thaw survival in mammalian cells.
abstract: Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) increases the fluidity of membrane lipids in the hydrocarbon but not the polar regions, as measured by electron spin resonance spin label probes. BHT also sensitizes nucleated mammalian cells to freeze-thaw damage as measured by colony formation survival assays. Furthermore, the membranes of BHT-exposed cells are more susceptible to physical stress, as reflected by the BHT-induced sensitization to hypotonic stress. Since others have shown that BHT induces hexagonal phase lipids in lipid bilayers, this phenomenon may also influence the above survival results.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005615:Freezing; D007700:Kinetics; D008168:Lung; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration
chemical_list: D008563:Membrane Lipids; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene