Localization of filipin-sterol complexes in cell membranes of eosinophils.
The polyene antibiotic filipin was used as a probe for the detection of cholesterol in the cell membranes of eosinophils isolated from the peritoneal exudate of rats. A homogenous distribution of filipin-sterol complexes was observed, both in thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas throughout the whole plasma membrane but not in the membrane of pynocytic vesicles, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and the nucleus. Few complexes were seen in freeze-fracture replicas showing the membrane of the specific granules. Treatment of living cells with filipin induced aggregation of filipin-sterol complexes at some points of the plasma membrane.
D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D005372:Filipin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011090:Polyenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013261:Sterols / Q000378:metabolism*
D011090:Polyenes; D013261:Sterols; D005372:Filipin; D002784:Cholesterol