[Changes in spatial organization in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes in rabbits with experimental thyrotoxicosis]

The structure of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes (SR) of skeletal muscles from normal and thyrotoxic rabbits was studied with the use of the fluorescent probe pyrene. It was found that protein globules in SR preparations of thyrotoxic animals were submerged into the lipid bilayer to a greater extent than in the reticulum of normal animals. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel revealed no detectable differences between SR of normal and thyrotoxic rabbits. The ratio protein/lipid in SR membranes remained 2:1 in rabbits with thyrotoxicosis.