Ethanol effects on phospholipids and triacylglycerols of rat brain astrocyte cell line

A homotypic population of rat brain astrocyte (RBA-1) cell line was used to investigate the effects of ethanol on uptake of [3H]-arachidonic acid and incorporation of label into phospholipids and neutral lipids in the cell. Incubation of the cells with [3H]-arachidonic acid resulted in labeling of most phospholipids and triacylglycerols, although individual phospholipids exhibited different rates for acquiring the label. Labeled arachidonate was first incorporated into phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylinositols prior to equilibriation with other phospholipids. In short term incubation (8 hr), ethanol (128-255 mM) enhanced the incorporation of labeled arachidonate into most phospholipids. In addition, ethanol at 128 mM enhanced the labeling of the triacylglycerols, and the difference was greater with increasing time of ethanol exposure. It is concluded that ethanol enhanced the uptake and incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into the cell membrane lipids. This study further indicates the feasibility of using the RBA-1 cells in culture to probe the effects of ethanol on membrane lipid metabolism.