[Effects of spirulina on serum lipids, erythrocyte membrane fluidity and vascular endothelial cells in tail-suspended rats].
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.
Huang
Ji-ming
JM
Bai
Shu-min
SM
Hu
Zhi-xiang
ZX
Yang
Chun-lei
CL
Zhu
De-bing
DB
Shi
Jie-ping
JP
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
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol