Membrane regulation of liver and lung microsomes under low oxygen tension

A highly monitorized animal model has been developed for the study of the influence of low oxygen tension on lipid composition, microviscosity and regulation of enzyme activities involved in the phospholipid synthesis of hepatic and pulmonary microsomes. Microviscosity decreased in liver microsomes whereas no difference was shown in that of microsomal membrane core of hypoxemic lung. Nevertheless, phospholipid and cholesterol content of both liver and lung membranes changed significantly. Microsomal membranes of hypoxemic liver increased the unsaturation degree of fatty acids, whereas hypoxemic lung membranes become more saturated, mainly due to the increase of palmitic acid. The adaptive response of lung was confirmed by the high increase of the deacylation-reacylation mechanism.