title: Decrease in microviscosity and cholesterol content of rat liver plasma membranes after chronic ethanol feeding.
abstract: This investigation was performed to determine whether chronic ethanol feeding alters the lipid composition or the fluidity of liver plasma membranes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-fed nutritionally adequate liquid diets containing ethanol as 36% of energy or an isocaloric amount of carbohydrate for 4-5 wk. Contrasting with other membranes, chronic ethanol feeding resulted in an increase in hepatic plasma membrane fluidity as assessed by fluorescence anisotropy. This alteration was associated with a decrease in plasma membrane cholesterol content.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D008563:Membrane Lipids; D000431:Ethanol; D002784:Cholesterol