[Structural changes in erythrocyte membranes in diabetes mellitus using spin labelled fatty acids]

Microviscosity and polarity of erythrocyte membranes of the blood of patients suffering from diabetes were studied by ESR using spin-labeled fatty acids. Structural changes were discovered 0.6-0.8 nm from the membrane surface in the lipid bilayer of erythrocytes obtained from patients' blood. No essential immobilization of the acyl chains of phospholipids was found in deeper layers as compared with the control. The bilayer polarity at different depth was not essentially changed either.