title: Age and sex related changes of plasma membrane fluidity in isolated rat hepatocytes.
abstract: The influence of sex and age on membrane fluidity, has been investigated in 6, 12, 18 weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats. Fluorescence polarization (P) was determined at 37 degrees C with a Perkin Elmer MPF 44A fluorescence spectrophotometer. The fluorescent probe TMA-DPH was added to isolated hepatocytes prepared by collagenase method. The membrane fluidity was constantly lower in males than in females, but the difference was statistically significant only in the 12 weeks old group. Major differences appeared related to aging with a significant age-related decrease in fluidity in all animals.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate School of Gastroenterology, University of Ancona, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Curatola
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jézéquel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orlandi
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004161:Diphenylhexatriene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D004161:Diphenylhexatriene; C033628:1-(4-(trimethylamino)phenyl)-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene