Platelet and erythrocyte membrane fluidity changes in alcohol-dependent patients undergoing acute withdrawal.
This study tested the hypothesis that membrane fluidity may alter during the alcohol-withdrawal syndrome. Platelet membranes of alcohol-dependent patients (n = 7) were significantly more rigid than controls (n = 7) at the start of alcohol withdrawal (mean fluorescence anisotropy 203.1 x 10(-3) vs 195.5 x 10(-3) respectively, P = 0.03), but were significantly more fluid when withdrawal was complete (191.4 x 10(-3) vs 199.2 x 10(-3), P = 0.03). Consequently platelet membranes of patients adapted to the known acute fluidizing effect of alcohol by becoming more rigid, but underwent a marked fluidization during withdrawal. There were no significant changes in erythrocyte membrane fluidity during withdrawal.
Department of Psychiatry, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, UK.
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Thompson
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016880:Anisotropy; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D008565:Membrane Proteins