Biomaterial Database

Modification of electrocyte membrane lipid composition induced by denervation. 1988

E G Quintana, and C Somló, and A Hassón-Voloch

Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

1. We determined the effect of denervation on the lipid composition of the main electric organ and electrocyte postsynaptic membrane vesicles of Electrophorus electricus. 2. Lipid extracts of whole electric organ contain mainly cholesterol, triglycerides, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. After 30 days of denervation, the lipid composition of whole electric organ did not change appreciably. 3. Lipid extracts of the membrane vesicles were similar, except that they contained mainly free fatty acids rather than triglycerides. After 30 days of denervation, cholesterol concentration was increased and phospholipids were decreased in the membrane fraction, with higher relative concentrations of phosphatidylethanolamine and cerebrosides. 4. These results suggest that electrocyte membrane fluidity and permeability will change after 30 days of denervation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008560	Membrane Fluidity	The motion of phospholipid molecules within the lipid bilayer, dependent on the classes of phospholipids present, their fatty acid composition and degree of unsaturation of the acyl chains, the cholesterol concentration, and temperature.	Bilayer Fluidity,Bilayer Fluidities,Fluidities, Bilayer,Fluidities, Membrane,Fluidity, Bilayer,Fluidity, Membrane,Membrane Fluidities
D008563	Membrane Lipids	Lipids, predominantly phospholipids, cholesterol and small amounts of glycolipids found in membranes including cellular and intracellular membranes. These lipids may be arranged in bilayers in the membranes with integral proteins between the layers and peripheral proteins attached to the outside. Membrane lipids are required for active transport, several enzymatic activities and membrane formation.	Cell Membrane Lipid,Cell Membrane Lipids,Membrane Lipid,Lipid, Cell Membrane,Lipid, Membrane,Lipids, Cell Membrane,Lipids, Membrane,Membrane Lipid, Cell,Membrane Lipids, Cell
D002463	Cell Membrane Permeability	A quality of cell membranes which permits the passage of solvents and solutes into and out of cells.	Permeability, Cell Membrane
D002855	Chromatography, Thin Layer	Chromatography on thin layers of adsorbents rather than in columns. The adsorbent can be alumina, silica gel, silicates, charcoals, or cellulose. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Chromatography, Thin-Layer,Thin Layer Chromatography,Chromatographies, Thin Layer,Chromatographies, Thin-Layer,Thin Layer Chromatographies,Thin-Layer Chromatographies,Thin-Layer Chromatography
D003714	Denervation	The resection or removal of the nerve to an organ or part.	Laser Neurectomy,Neurectomy,Peripheral Neurectomy,Radiofrequency Neurotomy,Denervations,Laser Neurectomies,Neurectomies,Neurectomies, Laser,Neurectomies, Peripheral,Neurectomy, Laser,Neurectomy, Peripheral,Neurotomies, Radiofrequency,Neurotomy, Radiofrequency,Peripheral Neurectomies,Radiofrequency Neurotomies
D004557	Electric Organ	In about 250 species of electric fishes, modified muscle fibers forming disklike multinucleate plates arranged in stacks like batteries in series and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. A large torpedo ray may have half a million plates. Muscles in different parts of the body may be modified, i.e., the trunk and tail in the electric eel, the hyobranchial apparatus in the electric ray, and extrinsic eye muscles in the stargazers. Powerful electric organs emit pulses in brief bursts several times a second. They serve to stun prey and ward off predators. A large torpedo ray can produce of shock of more than 200 volts, capable of stunning a human. (Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p672)	Electric Organs,Organ, Electric,Organs, Electric
D004593	Electrophorus	A genus of fish, in the family GYMNOTIFORMES, capable of producing an electric shock that immobilizes fish and other prey. The species Electrophorus electricus is also known as the electric eel, though it is not a true eel.	Eel, Electric,Electric Eel,Electrophorus electricus
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia