Increased surface glycoconjugates of synaptic membranes in mice during chronic ethanol treatment

Synaptosomal plasma membranes from mice treated chronically with ethanol were incubated with galactose oxidase and [3H]-sodium borohydride, in order to label the exposed galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine groups of glycoconjugates. The ethanol treatment approximately doubled the amount of exposed sugars. This change may be related to previously observed alterations in the physical properties of neuronal membranes in ethanol-treated mice.