[Permeability of liposomes with different cholesterol content as affected by low temperature]

Membrane permeability is found to decrease in the range of 0+ -25 degrees C with an increase of the cholesterol content in liposomes from 0 to 50%. A higher stability of liposomes at low temperatures is observed under hypertonic conditions as compared with hypotonic and isotonic conditions, the cholesterol content being 20-50%. The obtained results demonstrate the cholesterol effect on structural changes in the liposome membrane under supercooling and important role of cholesterol in the liposome stability to environmental changes.