[Structural rearrangements in synaptosomal membranes of the brain]

Studies were carried out on structural state of synaptosomes and synaptic plasma membranes from brain of rats and guinea pigs at 5--50C. In membranes from guinea pig brain there were two breaks at 8 and at 18--20C in the curves of temperature dependence of light scattering. At the same temperatures adhesive properties of membranes had changed in jump-like manner when evaluating the degree of aggregation at pH4. The degree of aggregation in membranes from rat brain as well as rate of solubilization by 0.2% SDS (stoped-flow measurements) are characterized by single break point at 27C in Arrhenius curves. The breaks were interpreted as phase transitions with membrane surface involvement. Chlorpromazine and tetraciane (10(4)--10(3) M) abolished or modified these transitions. Because the number of negative charges and tryptophanyl and ANS fluorescence parameters were unchanged it was suggested that redistribution of ionogenic and hydrophobic goups took place at membrane surface during phase transitions.