Erythrocyte Plasma Membrane Perturbations in Rats Fed a Cholesterol-Rich Diet: Effect of Drinking Sulphurous Mineral Water

Vol. 49, No. 1, 2005

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Original Paper

Erythrocyte Plasma Membrane Perturbations in Rats Fed a Cholesterol-Rich Diet: Effect of Drinking Sulphurous Mineral Water
Cinzia Nasuti^a, Rosita Gabbianelli^b, Franco Cantalamessa^c, Giancarlo Falcioni^b

^aDottorato di Ricerca in 'Invecchiamento e Nutrizione',
^bDipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Medicina Sperimentale,
^cDipartimento di Biologia M.C.A., Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Ann Nutr Metab 2005;49:9-15 (DOI: 10.1159/000084172)

Key Words

Fluidity
Erythrocyte plasma membrane
Rats
Sulphurous mineral water
Cholesterol

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the ability of calcic and magnesic-sulphate-sulphurous spring mineral water (SMW) to reduce total and erythrocyte plasma membrane cholesterol in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. Methods: By using different fluorescent probes, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), 1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene (TMA-DPH) and Laurdan, a possible correlation was evaluated between cholesterol content changes of the membranes and membrane fluidity. Results: The results clearly show that hydropinic treatment reduced cholesterol level. No significant change was observed in DPH and TMA-DPH anisotropy values. By using Laurdan, an increase was observed in generalized polarization (GP₃₄₀) in both groups of rats (the one that drank tap water and the one that drank SMW) compared with the controls. The rate of haemolysis was reduced in those erythrocyte suspensions in which cholesterol was increased, even if the enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase and catalase decreased. Conclusion: Hydropinic treatment with SMW is of interest from the biomedical point of view, because it could represent an alternative approach in interventions aimed at ameliorating biological injury deriving from hypercholesterolaemia.

Author Contacts

Dr. Rosita Gabbianelli
Dipartimento di Biologia M.C.A., Università di Camerino
Via Camerini, 2
IT-62032 Camerino, MC (Italy)
Tel. +39 0737 403208, Fax +39 0737 636216, E-Mail rosita.gabbianelli@unicam.it

Article Information

Received: January 21, 2004
Accepted: July 13, 2004
Published online: February 25, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 46

Medline Abstract (ID 15735363)

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