title: Effect of ethanol exposure on Xenopus embryo lipid composition.
abstract: Exposure to ethanol is known to alter cell membranes both chemically and biophysically; these effects may be related to the development of tolerance and physical dependence. In the present study, the effects of various concentrations of ethanol (1-250 mM) on the lipid composition after the first 6 days of Xenopus embryo development were investigated, using an in vitro fertilization technique. Lipid analysis revealed: (1) a decrease of the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio mainly derived from a higher content of phospholipids; (2) an increase of phospholipid unsaturated fatty acids, especially C20:4 and C20:5, with ethanol concentration of 150-250 mM; (3) a decrease of lipid-bound sialic acid with ethanol concentrations of > or =5 mM. These results underline that sialoglycoconjugates are a more sensitive target of alcohol in comparison with other lipid components. The cultured embryo method certainly represents a useful model for investigation of the direct effects of ethanol on lipid metabolism, excluding maternal interference which can lead to misinterpretation of data.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montorfano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gornati
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rizzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D010743:Phospholipids; D000431:Ethanol; D002784:Cholesterol