[Stabilization of flat bilayer lipid membranes by cholesterol]

Cholesterol is found to produce a stabilizing effect on bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) from alpha-monoglycerides of fatty acids and n-octan. The greatest stabilization effect is observed for alpha-monoglycerides, in which the length of hydrocarbon radical coincides with the length of cholesterol molecule. The life time of BLM from alpha-monolaurin, cholesterol and n-octan is measured in hours, and the tension of electric damage of the membrane reaches 860 mV.