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Age and sex related changes of plasma membrane fluidity in isolated rat hepatocytes
A Benedetti1, G Ferretti, G Curatola
1Postgraduate School of Gastroenterology, University of Ancona, School of Medicine, Italy.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|October 31, 1988
Abstract:
The influence of sex and age on membrane fluidity, has been investigated in 6, 12, 18 weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats. Fluorescence polarization (P) was determined at 37 degrees C with a Perkin Elmer MPF 44A fluorescence spectrophotometer. The fluorescent probe TMA-DPH was added to isolated hepatocytes prepared by collagenase method. The membrane fluidity was constantly lower in males than in females, but the difference was statistically significant only in the 12 weeks old group. Major differences appeared related to aging with a significant age-related decrease in fluidity in all animals.