title: [Effects of spirulina on serum lipids, erythrocyte membrane fluidity and vascular endothelial cells in tail-suspended rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the changes of erythrocyte membrane fluidity, serum lipid and vascular endothelial cell caused by simulated weightlessness in rats and the beneficial effect of spirulina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male SD rats were divided into 3 groups: free control group (group A) and two simulated weightlessness groups (groups B, C). Rats in group A and B were fed with normal forage, and the rats in group C were fed with normal forage supplemented with 5% (W/W) spirulina. Water was taken ad libitum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of serum CHO, HDL, TG, HDL-C/CHO and erythrocyte membrane fluidity decreased significantly, and number of vascular endothelial cells in plasma increased markedly in group B as compared with those in group A; The ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C, and atherosclerosis index (AI) decreased, number of vascular endothelial cells significantly lowered; level of CHO, HDL-C and value of the IDmax of plasma as well as erythrocyte membrane fluidity remarkedly increased in group C compared with those in group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spirulina can improve the physiological conditions of erythrocyte membrane fluidity, serum lipid and vascular endothelial cell caused by simulated weightlessness in rats.
authors.forename: Ji-ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shu-min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Zhi-xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chun-lei
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: De-bing
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jie-ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000458:Cyanobacteria; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053545:Spirulina; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol